Genealogy at the Crossroads: International Links in Greece

Nestled at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean Sea, Greece has long served as a vibrant gateway linking continents, peoples, and civilizations. For centuries, Greeks migrated throughout the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, while many others journeyed these lands for trade, war, refuge, and education. Despite this, the significance of Greece and its rich archival heritage in international genealogy have often been overlooked. Through a genealogical lens and the utilization of newly accessible online sources this session will uncover international stories rooted in Greece: WWI soldiers from Europe and its colonies, Protestant missionaries, students of the region’s first university, Philhellene Europeans and Americans, Jewish communities, and Muslim populations. Greek genealogy sources hold vital importance for researchers worldwide, and showcase how interconnected human stories and genealogies are!