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希腊欢迎你

http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/11/04 19:24  新浪教育

  WELCOME TO GREECE

  希腊欢迎你

  by Ann Stalcup

  Greece is a land of rugged mountains, shady olive trees, more varieties of wildflowers than any other European country, and islands scattered like jewels across a brilliant blue sea. According to ancient mythology, in a war between gods, the Titans tore the tops from mountains, using them as weapons. The rocky peaks fell into the sea, thus creating the many islands of Greece. Mythology, history, and folklore have
shaped the way people think in this ancient land; the land itself has shaped their way of life.

  Greece is believed to have been first settled around 3000 B.C., when invaders swept down from the north. They failed to reach the island of Crete, home of the Minoans. A literate, advanced civilization with its own hieroglyphic style of writing, the Minoans lived in luxurious cities and palaces. They even had flush toilets, hot and cold running water, and thermal heating. In 1400 B.C., a volcanic eruption on the nearby island of Thera caused earthquakes and tidal waves that destroyed the Minoan civilization. Main land Greece became the major Mediterranean sea power.

  Around 1200 B.C., the Greeks began forming city-states called polis. Each had its own rulers, army, and individual type of government. Our own democracy is based on the style of government Athens had at that time.

  The Classical Period began in the fifth century B.C. Although Greece led the world in science, culture, and the arts, the city-states fought violently among themselves. In 338 B.C., Philip of Macedonia conquered the Greek city-states. His son, Alexander the Great, enlarged the empire, introducing Greek culture to the lands he conquered.

  Over the next 2,000 years, from 145 B.C. onward, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottoman Turks ruled Greece in succession. Although Greece gained its independence from Turkey in 1830, other outsiders invaded Greece; within the country, there was unrest among the Greeks them- selves. Finally, in 1974, Greece rejected its military government and monarchy and became a democratic republic.

  Greece is divided into regions and island groups. The landscape, with its barren mountainsides, 9,000-mile-long coastline, and many islands, has always shaped its people, the way they live, where they live, and the type of work they do. No one lives more than 60 miles from the sea. Because of the rugged terrain and dry, rocky soil, agriculture is restricted to one third of the land. Transportation is difficult. More than nine thousand islands, "flowers of marble" are scattered across three seas-the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Aegean. Only 169 of these islands are inhabited.

  Although farmland is limited, half of the Greek population works in agriculture. For a long time, agricultural produce such as olives, figs, raisins, tobacco, sugar, and wheat were the country's most valuable assets. The bare, rocky land is perfect for growing olive trees. Farms, however, are small. Often three generations share both a home and the farm chores. Today, the government is encouraging farmers to specialize. Exporting the additional produce would provide added revenue for Greece.

  Greece has some of the world's richest ship owners; its merchant fleet is the sixth largest in the world. In villages along the coast and on the islands, a great many other Greeks earn their living from the sea. Using open, single-mast wooden fishing boats known as caiques, whole families are involved with the sea. Once, sponge fishing was a vital industry. Unfortunately, as more people buy man-made, less expensive sponges, the market for natural sponges is dying out.

  Many Greeks work in the tourist industry, Spectacular historic sites abound on the mainland, while the islands, in particular, draw people from all over the world. In summer, ferries constantly ply the waters among them. Many of the islands have beautiful beaches, picturesque windmills, and snow-white streets. Some, such as Mikonos, are golden and dry; others, such as Corfu, are green and tree-filled. The sun is hot, the sky a clear, sparkling blue.

  The climate, a combination of Mediterranean (warm wet winters and hot dry summers) and European (hot, muggy summers and cold snowy winters), affects all three industries-agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Athens can be 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade in July and August. In summer, melterni, or strong winds, cause rough seas, affecting both fishing and ferryboats.

  One third of the population lives and works in the bustling, modern, capital city of Athens. However, in rural Greece, particularly the more remote villages, the traditional way of life has not changed for centuries. Donkeys are still an important means of transportation, everyone knows everyone else, the older women swathe themselves from head to toe in black. In the evenings, people gather at tables and chairs in the main square to chat, sip ouzo (an anise drink), or play backgammon. It is as if time has stood still.

  For centuries, their rich culture has been a source of pride to all Greeks; its influence on the peoples of the world cannot be measured.

  希腊的地势山峦起伏,橄榄树成阴,遍地的野花胜过任何其他欧洲国家。她的岛屿像璀璨的明珠散落在蔚蓝色的大海上。据古代神话传说,在众神之间的战争中,提坦(又译泰坦)撕下山顶作为武器。这些多石的山峰落进大海,化作现在的诸多岛屿。神话、历史和民间传说塑造了这个古老土地上人民的思维方式,大地本身塑造了希腊人的生活方式。

  人们认为公元前3000年侵略者从北方入侵希腊,以后在希腊定居下来,但他们没有到达弥诺斯人的故乡——克里特岛。弥诺斯人,有象形文字的高度文明的人,他们住在豪华的城市和宫殿里,甚至有冲水的厕所、冷热自来水和暖气。公元前1400年,附近的Thera 岛火山喷发,引发地震和海啸,摧毁了弥诺斯人的文明古国。希腊大陆就此成为地中海的主导力量。

  大约公元前1200年,希腊开始形成城邦(称作polis)。每个城都有自己的统治者、军队和独立的政府体系。我们现在的民主就是源于那时古雅典的政府体制。

  古典时期开始于公元前5世纪。尽管希腊在科学、文化和艺术方面领先全世界,但自己内部城邦之间的战争非常激烈。公元前338年,马其顿的菲力普二世征服了希腊各城邦,其子亚历山大大帝进一步扩张他的帝国,同时将希腊文明传播到他所征服的其他国土上。

  从公元前145年以后的2000年时间里,罗马人、拜占庭人和奥斯曼土耳其人相继统治过希腊。尽管1830年希腊就从土耳其统治下独立了,但以后的时间外有侵略,内有动荡。终于,在1974年希腊废除了军事统治和君主制,成为一个民主共和国。

  希腊国分为地区和岛群。地貌上为连绵起伏的贫瘠山脉、长达9000英里的海岸线和众多岛屿,这样的地理环境造就了希腊人民的生活方式和工作方式。人们都居住在距海岸60英里以内的区域里。由于地势起伏、干燥缺水和土壤少,希腊只有三分之一的土地可用于农业耕作,交通运输也很困难。九千多个岛屿就像“大理石花”洒落在三个海域里——地中海、爱奥尼亚海和爱琴海,这些岛屿中只有169座上有人居住。

  尽管农业土地有限,但希腊仍有一半的人从事农业生产。长期以来农产品,如橄榄、无花果、葡萄干、烟草、糖和小麦是希腊最有价值的经济产品。贫瘠和岩石裸露的土地只能用来种橄榄树。农场的面积很小,农民常常三代同堂,共同在农场上劳作。今天,政府鼓励农民走专业化道路。出口农副产品可以为国家增加财政收入。

  希腊拥有世界上最富的船主和位居世界第六大的商船队。沿海和岛上的居民靠海谋生,他们有开放式或单桅木制渔船(小帆船),全家都从事渔业。过去,打捞海绵曾经是他们的主业,不幸的是购买便宜的人造海绵的人越来越多,天然海绵逐渐被挤出市场。

  许多希腊人从事旅游业。大陆上的历史名胜古迹吸引着世界各地的人们观光,而岛屿就更是吸引人了。夏天,渡船不断穿梭于希腊海疆。很多岛屿有美丽的沙滩,如画的风车以及雪白的街道,还有一些岛如米科诺斯岛呈金色,较干旱,另一些岛如科孚岛则是绿树成阴,阳光普照,天空蔚蓝。

  希腊的气候既有地中海气候(冬天温暖潮湿,夏天干燥炎热)特征,又有欧洲气候(夏天湿热,冬天多雪寒冷)成分,它对农业、渔业和旅游业有明显影响。雅典的七八月份温度可达100华氏度(约38摄氏度)。夏天多见大风,影响捕鱼和渡船。

  希腊三分之一的人口居住在喧闹忙碌的现代化首都雅典。然而在乡村,特别是偏远的村庄,人们的生活世世代代没什么改变。驴仍然是重要的交通工具,村里人人相熟,老妇人从头到脚裹在黑袍中。夜晚,人们在主要广场围坐谈天论地,喝大茴香酒,或玩西洋双陆棋。时间似乎静止。

  千百年来,丰富的文化让希腊人民引以为自豪,它对世界各国人们的影响无法估量。



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