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Seafaring Greeks colonized the coastal areas of the Black Sea, known as Pontus from the Greek word for sea, beginning in the 8th Century BC. With the establishment of cities and trade routes throughout Asia Minor, the Greeks of the Pontus succeeded in developing a thriving economy and culture.
Throughout history, many of the most enlightened intellects have studied the glorious age of ancient Greece and the contributions of ancient Greek philosophers, scientists, artists, and statesmen. Less is known, however, about the history culture and contributions of the Greeks of the Pontus. The History section will familiarize you with our unique background and provide resources for further study.
Following the advent of Christianity during late Roman and early Byzantine times, the Greeks of Pontus preserved their orthodox religious traditions and distinctive culture for over one thousand years - even after the Ottoman conquest in 1461 relegated them to the role of a religious minority of the Empire for over four hundred years. Having endured centuries of pressure by the Ottoman authorities to convert to Islam, the persecutions of Christians intensified in the 17th and 18th Centuries then eased in the 19th Century due to a series of internal reforms meant to modernize the Ottoman Empire along Western European lines. Hopes of better living conditions in the empire, however, were brutally dashed by the early 20th century eventually leading to the systematic eradication of the empire's Christian minorities.
Starting with the rise to power of Turkish Nationalists (or "Young Turks") in 1908 and ending with the mass killings of Pontian Greeks and the forced exchange of populations in 1923, the Turkish nationalists achieved one of the first genocides of the 20th Century.
Since 1923, genocide has continued to take place around the world and continues to this very day. The importance of learning about causes and consequences of genocide is an essential lesson for the civilized world. To this end, the Pontian Greek Society of Chicago has gathered and is making available documents on the events that pertain to the Pontian Greek Genocide. Resources for the Pontian Greek Genocide History (1908-1923) have been consolidated on the PanPontian Federation website, which will become available soon.
After the genocide and exchange of populations, Pontian Greeks primarily settled in Greece with a significant community also settling in the former republics of the Soviet Union. In the 1950s and 1960s, many immigrated to Germany, Australia, Canada, and the United States seeking a better life and more economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
Wherever they settled, the Pontian Greeks made it a point to preserve their religion, culture, and traditions. Several social clubs and federations were formed in the new homelands with the purpose of establishing a hearth to keep alive their cherished customs and sense of community.
The children and grandchildren of refugees throughout the diaspora are preserving the memories and personal stories of their parents and grandparents who survived the horrific events of the catastrophe of Asia Minor and Pontus. Time may have lessened the degree of pain but did not erase these poignant memories. Reading these oral stories, one can not only sense the tremendous human suffering and nostalgia for a lost homeland experienced by the refugees, but the magnitude of hate and inhuman behavior of those in power.
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