The Sentinel Woman

Having had the opportunity to work in Greece, I deeply appreciate their fierce independent spirit, resolute character, and rich history. Greece spent nearly 400 years under the rule of the Ottoman Empire (1453–1830 in Greek territory), an Islamic empire that controlled much of Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The Greek War of Independence began in 1821, and Greece officially gained independence in 1830. However, Ottoman forces remained in parts of Anatolia (the peninsula that makes up most of modern-day Turkey) until 1922, when the empire’s control there finally ended after the Greco-Turkish War and the subsequent population exchanges established modern Turkey.

During Ottoman rule in Greece, local populations experienced significant oppression. Several historical examples illustrate why the memory of this period remains strong in Greek consciousness:

Devshirme system (15th–17th centuries) – Christian boys from Greek families were forcibly taken from their homes, converted to Islam, and trained as soldiers or administrators in the elite Janissaries. While some attained high positions, many were subjected to harsh conditions and permanent separation from their families. Massacres and reprisals during revolts – Greeks who resisted Ottoman rule frequently faced brutal retaliation. One of the most infamous was the Chios massacre (1822), in which tens of thousands of civilians were killed or enslaved. Forced labor and heavy taxation – The Ottoman administration imposed onerous taxes and required local populations to provide forced labor for public works or military campaigns, causing widespread suffering and depopulation in some areas. Religious restrictions and discrimination – While the empire allowed Christian communities limited self-governance under the millet system, Greeks and other non-Muslims faced systemic inequality under Ottoman Islamic law. The millet system granted each recognized religious community a degree of internal autonomy—allowing them to manage their own schools, courts, and religious practices—but individual freedoms were limited, particularly in public life, legal rights, and political representation. Unlike modern concepts of equal citizenship, Ottoman governance prioritized religious hierarchy and community control over personal liberties. Population displacement and destruction of communities – During periods of war, conquest, or rebellion, Greek villages were often destroyed, and families were forcibly relocated, enslaved, or subjected to violent repression.

The Greek War of Independence itself came at a tremendous human cost. Estimates suggest that between 100,000 and 300,000 Greeks lost their lives from combat, massacres, famine, and disease, representing roughly 5–15% of the population at the time. Greece’s fight for freedom was aided by crucial foreign support: Britain, France, and Russia intervened militarily and diplomatically, most decisively at the Battle of Navarino (1827), while European volunteers, known as Philhellenes, including Lord Byron, joined the fight and provided both expertise and funding.

This history is something the world outside of Greece may have forgotten, but Greece has not forgotten or ignored. Centuries under Ottoman rule left a lasting imprint on the national consciousness, which continues to influence Greece’s emphasis on protecting sovereignty, borders, and cultural identity. Today, Greece sits at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East and serves as a frontline border of the European Union, enforcing strict immigration and border policies shaped both by geography and this historical experience.

Greece also remains strategically important to Western security. As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Greece hosts a significant United States military presence, including the important naval and air facility at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the island of Crete. This installation supports operations across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, underscoring Greece’s continuing role as a strategic partner in regional stability and defense.