Give and Take in Athens

Have you ever wondered how the economy of a place can shape its culture and the way it looks? Bring your parents along on this walk through the center of Athens, and we’ll find out together.

For thousands of years Athens combined economic activity with various aspects of cultural life. In the Agora, for instance, trade fueled developments in religion, philosophy, political life, and the arts.

During the Byzantine era, well-to-do families emerged who financed the construction of grand houses and places of worship in the city. The Athens of coexisting ethnic communities had its glory days during Ottoman years, when Jews, Muslims, and Christians met in the bazaars, baths, and neighborhoods. In more modern times, Athens as a new capital city turned her gaze toward the West, carving a new trajectory as regards its mercantile ethos and financial activity.

What, truly, is left of all that today? Come and we’ll find out together.