Nationalism has been an important force in shaping countries and politics since ancient times. In the Greek world, nationalism is a part of every day life. It defines and reminds the people of who they are, and where they have come from. Greek Nationalism would reach its height in the years following World War I. In the Greco-Turkish war of 1920-1923, nationalism was the main driving force in the Greek attempt to create a Greater Greece. .
The nationalistic ideology of Greece for the past two centuries was known as the Megali Idea (Great Idea). The goal of the Great Idea was "to unite within the bounds of a single state, whose capital would be Constantinople, all the areas of Greek settlement in the Near East." This idea originated in the 1700's, and was for some, a reason for the Greek war for independence. However, the Great Idea would not become popular until the mid 1800's. Ioannis Kolettis said:.
"Not only were inhabitants of the kingdom Greeks but so too were those who lived in any land associated with Greek history or the Greek race. There were two main [centers] of Hellenism: Athens, the capital of the Kingdom; and the City of Constantinople, the dream and hope of all Greeks'." .
This idea was the dream and desire of every Greek. They wanted to go back to a time of imperial grandeur, a time when they were not the conquered, but the conquerors. This is why to this day Greek nationalism is so strong; it is part of their heritage. The seeds of the post WWI era would be planted in this time period. This idea, "was to be the dominant ideology for the emergent state," as well as the political forefront of Greek foreign policy after WWI. .
The nationalistic view of the Megali Idea did not come to the forefront of Greek politics until the early 20th century. In 1909, the Greek army exiled the current political leaders and put into power a man by the name of Eleftherios Venizelos.