The Greek Revolution and the Diaspora in the United States

A timely new book titled “The Greek Revolution and the Greek Diaspora in the United States” was recently released in Greece.

Edited by Maria Kaliambou with contributions from prominent Greek and Greek American historians such as Alexander Kitroeff, Sakis Gekas, Kostis Kourelis, April Kalogeropoulos-Householder, Fevronia Soumakis and Yiorgos Anagnostou, the book examines the question of historical awareness within the Greek communities in the diaspora.

It adds a new perspective to the discussion about the Greek Revolution of 1821 by including the forgotten Greeks in the United States and Canada.

The purpose of this volume is to discuss the impact of the Greek Revolution as manifested in various discourses. It is celebrated by the Greek communities, taught in Greek schools, and covered in the local newspapers.

It is an inspiration for literary, artistic, and theatrical creations. The chapters reflect a broad range of disciplines (history, literature, art history, ethnology, and education), offering both historical and contemporary reflections.

Greek Revolution creates passionate feelings in the Diaspora

This volume presents new knowledge about the Greeks in the United States and Canada for the last 100 years.

The bicentennial celebrations of the Greek revolution of 1821 highlighted the passion of the Greek diaspora for their homeland. The celebrations revealed that the contemporary Greek diaspora has a global presence and an overarching international influence.

The Greek Revolution and the Greek Diaspora in the United States will attract scholars, students, and public readers of Modern Greek Studies and Greek American Studies, as well as those interested in comparative history, diaspora and ethnic studies, memory studies and cultural studies.

Maria Kaliambou, born and raised in the multicultural city of Thessaloniki, Greece, is Senior Lector at the Hellenic Studies Program at Yale University.

Her research focuses on the dialogue between folklore and book history, particularly in the diaspora. Her current research is on the book culture of Greek American communities.

The English version of the book will be published in the summer by Routledge.

Greece and the US share many historical similarities

Those who fought the American War of Independence against the British Empire and founded the new nation of the United States were clearly inspired by Greek ideals.

After suffering under an unresponsive monarchy that refused to allow them to be represented in Parliament, they intended to recreate the Ancient Greek precepts of democracy on American shores.

The ideas and practices that led to the development of the American democratic republic after 1776 owe an enormous debt to the ancient civilization of Greece.

All of America’s founding fathers had studied the ancient Greek philosophers, drawing inspiration on morals, ethics and the sense of self-determination — all fundamental principles of a democratic society.