Greece

Greece is a nation on the continent of Europe, on Earth. It is known as Ἑλλάς (Hellás) to speakers of the Greek language. Similarly, a person who is native to Greece is known as Greek.

History
Greece is considered by many scholars to be the origin of Western European civilization, beginning with ancient Greece: Western philosophy, theater, literature, and political science all bear a heavy Greek influence. Democracy originated in Greece, as did a number of mathematical and scientific advances. Early Greece, however, fell victim to political disunity and was conquered. However, despite the conquest by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great and later by the Romans, Greek cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and others continued to influence Western culture including during the era of the rise of Christianity. Greece played a major role in the Eastern Roman Empire--that is, the Byzantine Empire--only changing hands again when it came under Ottoman rule in 1453.

Greece gained its independence in 1819 at the conclusion of an eight-year war against the Ottoman Turks, but endured a series of other wars and invasions, including Turkey, Third Reich Germany, and civil war. These various tensions cooled off by the last years of the 20th century.

Geography
Greece is largely characterized by rugged, mountainous terrain on the mainland, and a large number of islands. At least up until the 21st century, Greece was also subject to earthquakes and other seismic disturbances.

Culture
In the twenty-fourth century, Greece is a peaceful nation. At least some families and individuals remain members of the Greek Orthodox Church, which at least until the advent of the Third World War was the established church of Greece. The city of Thessaloniki is known to have remained prominent. 

People from Greece

 * Lieutenant Commander Makis Spirodopoulos. (Though Spirodopoulos is 1/4 American, he considers himself Greek.)