21st Annual Student Research Conference
Greece and Turkey: Modern Attitudes Drawn from a History of Tension and Conflict
Christopher P. Peterson
Dr. Steven Reschly and Prof. Martha L. Rose, Faculty Mentors
Greece is a country renowned for its attention to antiquity and sacred sites, and very few sites around the country are not developed and itemized for their history. Yet even in a country that takes such pride in its past culture, there are sites that are actively ignored. Islamic sites in Greece are falling into disrepair and ruin, and there seems little effort to preserve these often magnificent sites. Islam is accorded such distaste because of the different culture it represents, its association in Greek culture with a conquering invader, and the harsh impositions Islamic and Turkish law exacted on Grecian society. This study, through exploration of sacred sites in Greece, examination of historical events, and interviews with local citizens, seeks to understand the myriad of reasons for the continuing cultural conflict between Turkey and Greece, and how Islamic sites in Greece are being affected.
Keywords: Islam, Greece, Turkey
Topic(s):History
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 36-5
Location: OP 2111
Time: 2:15