2021 marks the bicentennial anniversary of the Greek revolution, the struggle against the Ottoman Empire. The 10-year war with the help of the Great Powers culminated in the establishment of the Greek state.
In a recent symposium hosted by Yale University, scholars from several fields discuss the historical and cultural impact of the revolution on Greeks in North America. The scholars discuss the revolution’s present-day significance in the identity formation of those communities and the mechanisms by which they cultivate the memory of the revolution.
Titled “The Greek Revolution and the Greek Diaspora in North America,” the conference aims to document how North American Greek communities perceive and enliven this milestone of modern Greek history.
Diaspora Greeks may identify with the specific region(s) of Greece from which their ancestors came, but the commemorative events of the revolution act as a uniting force which brings them together.
Organized by Professor Maria Kaliambou of Yale University, the symposium offers both historical and contemporary reflections on the expectations and assumptions that diaspora Greeks have about their history.
Participating scholars come from fields including history, folklore, anthropology, education, sociology, literature and film studies, among others.
Click here to watch panel discussion 1
Click here to watch panel discussion 2
Click here to watch panel discussion 3
