Greek Daily Life
Learn more about the historic lifestyles, cuisine, clothing, and housing of Greece.
Traditional Lifestyles of Greece
The historic peasant lifestyles of Greece followed several basic patterns with regional differences. While coastal and island farmers often had less land to work with, their Mediterranean climate made it possible to grow rich foods like olives, grapes, artichokes, and other fruits and vegetables. Rocky areas supported livestock like sheep and goats, and abundant seafoods encouraged a strong tradition of fishing. Typical Greek families throughout history pursued one, two, or all three of these lifestyles. Others have flocked to the region’s cities, which are some of the oldest in Europe.
Greek Cuisine
Greece’s mild, Mediterranean climate made up in part for its poor soil quality. Its farmers grew crops of barley, wheat, olive trees, figs, apples, onions, grapes, garlic, artichokes, cabbage, and asparagus. In addition, they raised sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and cattle. Meat was, however, a somewhat rare commodity. Most city-dwellers ate red meat on rare occasions, such as after a religious sacrifice. Seafoods and fish, on the other hand, were generally available in abundance. Honey provided their main source of sugar, and many farms raised bees. Wine also formed a major industry, typically watered down before drinking.
Modern Greek cuisine has developed from these early staples and foreign imports. New World foods, most notably the tomato, slowly integrated into traditional dishes. Turkish cuisine, brought by the Ottoman Empire, added more spices, yogurt, stuffed vegetables, kebabs, flatbreads, and various sweets derived from Persia. Famous Greek dishes include baklava pastries, stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, spanakopita spinach pies, fasolada soups, and gyro sandwiches. Each community within Greece is home to its own specialties and ingredients, and dishes may vary greatly by region.
Historic Greek Housing
The common houses of Ancient Greece tended to be simple structures of wood, clay, or mud brick, built to stay cool in the summer. They had no chimneys or glass for their windows, instead using simple holes in the wall. Wealthier homes could afford stone, plaster, and tiled roofs. These homes could be two stories tall, with living quarters on the upper floor. When space permitted, men and women took their meals apart, and women worked in their own craft and weaving room.
Thousands of years later, as the Kingdom of Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, little had changed in the lives of rural Greece. Mud bricks and thatch remained common, with stone more often seen along coasts and mountain ranges. Typical peasant farmers shared living spaces with their livestock, either on a lower story or in separate rooms. Whitewashed plaster grew popular during the 20th century, particularly in urban areas.
Clothing and Fashion in Greece
Ancient Greek clothing tended to be simple. Both men and women wore a wool or linen wrap over light underclothes. These wraps were generally white, unadorned, and made within the home. Pins, brooches, and belts held the garment in place. They emphasized the human form, though women dressed more modestly than men. Female garments were called peplos or chiton. Upper class men also sported the chiton. Laborers, however, were more likely to wear a long tunic tied at the shoulder. Both genders wore himatia cloaks over their outfits. This style of clothing continued into the Roman and Byzantine period, when materials like silk and expensive dyes grew more available.
During the Ottoman period, clothing in Greece became more standardized. Men began to wear the kilt-like fustanella and baggy vraka trousers. At the same time, many adopted the broader trends of European style. This custom has continued to the present day, with most Greek people sporting standard Western apparel.
Modern Lifestyles of Greece
Today, the people of Greece lead lives similar to those of other Europeans. Despite recent financial crises within the nation, Greeks tend to take great pride in their heritage, land, sports, and cuisine. Regional differences in foods and local customs are still common.
References
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Garland, Robert. Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks. 2nd Ed. ABC-CLIO. 2008.
Koliopoulos, Giannēs, John S. Koliopoulos, and Thanos M. Veremis. Greece: The Modern Sequel, from 1831 to the Present. NYU Press. 2002.
Martin, Thomas R. Ancient Greece. Yale University Press. 2013.
Molloy, David. “End of Greek Bailouts Offers Little Hope to Young.” BBC News, BBC, 19 Aug. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45207092.
Schofield, Louise. The Mycenaeans. Getty Publications. 2007.
Stamouli, Nektaria. “Greek Bailout Ends, but Underlying Problems Remain.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 22 Aug. 2018, www.wsj.com/articles/greek-bailout-ends-but-underlying-problems-remain-1534874419.
“The World Factbook: Greece.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 14 Aug. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html.
Thomopoulos, Elaine. The History of Greece. ABC-CLIO. 2012.
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