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Genocide In Greek Genocide

Decent Essays

One of the most gruesome genocides to happen during the 20th century is the Greek Genocide, often referred to as the Pontian or Ottoman Greek Genocide. This genocide consisted of mass killings and exterminations of the Ottoman Greeks by the Turkish rule from 1914-1923. The main dispute was difference in religion and beliefs, Christians versus Islam. What most people do not know is that the Ottoman Greek Genocide is responsible for the almost complete destruction of the Christian Orthodox culture, including monuments and history. Many Greeks suffered from forced deportations, death marches, forced conversion of religion, executions, labor battalions, hunger, and the overall cruelty of the Turkish government during this time period. The ones responsible for these acts was the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) and the Young Turk reformists who seized control of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Greeks of all ages and genders were persecuted because of their culture and minority in Turkey, so that the CUP and the Young Turks could achieved perfect “Turkification” of the empire. The events of the Pontian Greek Genocide happened in the westernmost part of Asia called Asia Minor or Anatolia, which is the Greek word for ‘east’. The Greeks first settled in Asia Minor around the 11th century (BC). From the 4th century (AD), Asia Minor’s main religious practice has been Christianity in which it has played an important role in the development of Christianity. For a long period of time,

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