Romaia: Difference between revisions
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==Economy== | ==Economy== | ||
===Agriculture=== | |||
According to archaeological data the first agricultural settlements began in Romaia around the 2th millennium BC. Archaeologists have clearly identified the paths followed by the first Anatolian peasants who spread the Neolithic Revolution across Romaia, primarily on the Pontic and Illian coast and along Therma. Initially they arrived from Europe by sea, where they founded agricultural villages similar to those of the Fertile Crescent. | |||
According to the last national agricultural census, there were 1.8 million farms in 2010. The vast majority (94%) are family-operated and small, averaging only 8 ha (20 acres) in size. Of the total surface area in agricultural use (forestry excluded), grain fields take up 21%, olive tree orchards 18.2%, vineyards 5.4%, citrus orchards 3.8%, sugar beets 1.7%, and horticulture 2.4%. The remainder is primarily dedicated to pastures (25.9%) and feed grains (11.6%). | |||
Romaia is one of the leading producers of olive oil, fruits (apples, olives, grapes, oranges, lemons, pears, apricots, hazelnuts, peaches, cherries, plums, strawberries and kiwifruits), and vegetables (especially artichokes and tomatoes). | |||
Quality goods in which Romaia specialises, particularly wines and regional cheeses, are often protected under the quality assurance labels PDO. This geographical indication certificate, which is attributed by the government, is considered important in order to avoid confusion with low-quality mass-produced ersatz products. | |||
===Transport=== | ===Transport=== | ||
Romaias's railway network, which stretches TBD kilometres (TBD mi) as of 2019,is one of the most extensive in the world. It is operated by the ESA, and high-speed trains include the AYT, which travels at 320 km/h (199 mph). Rail connections exist to all other neighbouring countries. Intra-urban connections are also well developed, with most major cities having underground or tramway services complementing bus services. | Romaias's railway network, which stretches TBD kilometres (TBD mi) as of 2019,is one of the most extensive in the world. It is operated by the ESA, and high-speed trains include the AYT, which travels at 320 km/h (199 mph). Rail connections exist to all other neighbouring countries. Intra-urban connections are also well developed, with most major cities having underground or tramway services complementing bus services. |
Revision as of 19:29, 21 August 2022
The Romaian Empire Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία | |
---|---|
Motto: "Εν τούτω νίκα" "In this sign you will conquer" | |
Anthem: "Η Προσευχή" "the Prayer" | |
![]() Location of Romaia (dark green) in Estaria (grey) | |
Capital and largest city | Constantinoupoli |
Official languages | Greek |
Ethnic groups | Romaians |
Religion |
|
Demonym(s) | Romaian |
Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Emperor | Ioannis IV |
• Prime Minister | Leon Sakkellarios |
Legislature | Parliament |
Senate | |
National Assembly | |
Establishment | |
• First Empire | 12 April 1805 |
• Second Empire | 1 October 1868 |
• Current Constitution | 4 December 1967 |
Area | |
• Total | 2,012,031 km2 (776,850 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 1.05% |
Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 59.576.148 |
• 2019 census | 57.318.243 |
GDP (PPP) | 2022 estimate |
• Total | $2.972 trillion |
• Per capita | $48,443 |
GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $1.374 trillion |
• Per capita | $44,116 |
Gini (2019) | 38.7 medium |
HDI (2019) | very high |
Currency | Romaian Lira (£) (RLI) |
Time zone | UTC -3 (ART) |
Date format | dd.mm.yyyy (AD) |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +287 |
ISO 3166 code | RA |
Internet TLD | .ra .ρω |
|
Romaia (Greek: Ρωμανία, romanized: Romania), officially the Romaian Empire (Greek: Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία, romanized: Romaiki Aftokratoria), is a country consisting of a plato delimited by mountaneous catenaries. Romaia is located in Southern Estaria. The country covers a total are of 2012031 km2 (776849,5 sq mi) and shares land borders with Euganeia and TBA. With around 60 million inhabitants, Romaia is the [TBD]-most populous state of Estaria. Due to its central geographical location in Southern Estaria, Romaia has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures. In addition to the various ancient peoples dispersed throughout modern Romaia, the most predominant being the Indo-European Greek peoples, beginning from the Bronze Age, Greeks (Mycenaeans) established settlements in the Eastern Romaia, while Celts and Italics inhabited western and northern Romaia respectively. A Greek tribe known as the Dorians formed the Aistarian Union in the [century BC]. The Aistarian Union initially conquered and assimilated its neighbours on the Eastern and Northeastern Estaria, eventually expanding and conquering western and northern parts of Estaria. After Latin invasion and years of Latin rule in the Northern Romaia due to similarity of Latin and Hellenic cultures, these peoples submerged into Romaians creating Ancient Romaia at the beginning of the current era.
During the Middle Ages, Romaian Kingdom endured the Barbarian Invasions, but by the 16th century, numerous city-states and maritime republics, mainly in the northern regions of Romaia, became prosperous through trade, commerce, and banking, laying the groundwork for modern capitalism. These mostly independent statelets served as Estaria's main trading hubs with Europe and Americas, often enjoying a greater degree of democracy than the larger feudal monarchies that were consolidating throughout Estaria.The Renaissance spread in Romaia by it's connections with Italian republics, bringing a renewed interest in humanism, science, exploration, and art. Centuries of foreign conquest and meddling, and the rivalry and infighting between the Romaian city-states, such as the Romaian Wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, left Romaia politically fragmented, and it was further partially conquered and divided among multiple foreign powers over the centuries.
Romaia reached its political and military zenith in the late 19th century under Constantine V, subjugating Romaian postfeudal states and Marine republics and establishing the Romaian Empire. Subsequent decades saw a period of optimism, cultural and scientific flourishing, as well as economic prosperity known as the Belle Époque. Romaia was among the Allied powers of World War II and courageously defended and liberated it's land.
Nowadays Romaia is a unitary constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance in Estaria. Romaia covers an area of 776849,5 a largely temperate seasonal climate and the Mediterranean climate.
The area of Romaia extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pontus Novus, and from the Illyan Sea to the Strymonian Mountains. It is bordered by TBD to the northeast and Euganeia to the west.
Romaia has a very high level of human development and has one the highest life expectancy in Estaria. Romaia plays an important role in regional economic, military, cultural and diplomatic affairs, and the country is a regional power and high power. Romaia is a member of many international organizations. As a reflection of its extensive cultural wealth, Romaia is one of the most visited countries in Estaria.
Name
Romans or Rhomaioi (Ῥωμαῖοι; sg. Ῥωμαῖος Rhomaios) and Romioi (Ρωμιοί; sg. Ρωμιός Romios), is the name by which the Romaians are known since the Middle Ages. The name in antiquity originally signified the inhabitants of the city of Rome in Italy, but with the increasing Latin colonisation of Estaria, the Roman states granted Roman citizenship to the Hellenics of Estaria and other nations of their states, it soon lost its connection with the Latins.
Overall, the foreign borrowed name (Romans) initially had a more political than national meaning, which went hand in hand with the universalizing ideology of Christianity and Hellenic-Roman culture that aspired to encompass all nations of the world under one true God. Various ethnicities could apply their own ethnonyms or toponyms to disambiguate citizenship from genealogy, which is why the historian Procopius prefers to call the Romaians as Hellenized Romans, while other authors use Romhellenes and Graecoromans, aiming to indicate descent and citizenship simultaneously.
History
This is a stub
Prehistory and antiquity
Ancient peoples:
Pre-Hellenic Indo-europeans: Italo-celtic: Italic: Eugani, Vorbici, Molsci, Celtic: Gallanici, Gelloi, Hernici,
Hellenics: Ellines, Dorici
Ancient Nysia
Ancient Hellenic City-states:
Ancient Romaia
Middle Ages
Early Modern
Unification and First Empire
Second Empire
Mauromatis regime
World War II
Contemporary Romaia
Geography
Politics
The constitutional history of Romaia dates back to the constitution of 1805, democratic traditions and values are deeply rooted in Romaian culture, identity and politics. The current constitution was approved by referendum on 12 November 1967, establishing a framework consisting of executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Government
Main article: Government of Romaia
Romaia is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament (Greek: Ρωμαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο).
The legislative branch is made up of the National Assembly (Εθνοσυνέλευση), a lower house with 450 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and the Senate (Σύγκλητος), an upper house with 259 seats of which 208 are directly elected by popular vote, using a limited voting method, and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms.
The executive branch consists of a Council of Ministers presided over by the Prime Minister, who is nominated as candidate by the monarch after holding consultations with representatives from the different parliamentary groups, voted in by the members of the lower house during an investiture session and then formally appointed by the monarch.
- Head of State (Emperor)
- Ioannis IV, since 2 April 2006
- Government
Main article: Government of Romaia- Prime Minister (head of government) or "President of the Government" (Πρόεδρος της Κυβέρνησης): Leon Sakellarios, elected 20 September 2020.
- Deputy prime ministers (designated by the Prime Minister): TBD.
- Ministers (designated by the Prime Minister): Second government of Leon Sakellarios.
The Prime Minister, deputy prime ministers and the rest of ministers convene at the Council of Ministers.
Law and criminal justice
Main article: Law in Romaia
The law of Romaia has a plurality of sources of production. These are arranged in a hierarchical scale, under which the rule of a lower source cannot conflict with the rule of an upper source (hierarchy of sources). The Constitution of 1967 is the main source. The judiciary of Romaia is based on Roman law modified by the Napoleonic code and later statutes. The Supreme Court of Cassation is the highest court in Romaia for both criminal and civil appeal cases. The Constitutional Council rules on the conformity of laws with the constitution.
Romaia uses a civil legal system, wherein law arises primarily from written statutes; judges are not to make law, but merely to interpret it (though the amount of judicial interpretation in certain areas makes it equivalent to case law in a common law system). Basic principles of the rule of law were laid in the Napoleonic Code. In agreement with the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, law should only prohibit actions detrimental to society. That is, Law should lay out prohibitions only if they are needed, and if the inconveniences caused by this restriction do not exceed the inconveniences that the prohibition is supposed to remedy.
Romaian law is divided into two principal areas: private law and public law. Private law includes, in particular, civil law. Public law includes, in particular, administrative law, constitutional law and criminal law. However, in practical terms, Romaian law comprises three principal areas of law: civil law, criminal law, and administrative law. Criminal laws can only address the future and not the past (criminal ex post facto laws are prohibited). While administrative law is often a subcategory of civil law in many countries, it is completely separated in Romaia and each body of law is headed by a specific supreme court: ordinary courts (which handle criminal and civil litigation) are headed by the Supreme Court of Cassation and administrative courts are headed by the Council of State.
To be applicable, every law must be officially published in the Official magazine of the State.
Law enforcement
The Romaian law enforcement system is complex, with multiple police forces. The national policing agencies are the Εθνική Αστυνομία (National Police), the Εθνική Χωροφυλακή (National Gendarmerie), Τελωνείο (Customs), and the Σωφρονιστική Διοίκηση (Penitentionary Administration).
The National Police is a civil police supervised by the Interior Ministry, while the National Gendarmerie is a gendarmerie supervised by the Defence Ministry; both share duties in law enforcement and the maintenance of public order. Within the Gendarmerie is a unit devoted to combating environmental crime. The Customs is responsible for combating financial crime and white-collar crime. The Penitentionary Administration is responsible for guarding the prison system. Although policing in Romaia is primarily provided on a national basis, there also exists Δημοτική Αστυνομία (municipal police).
Foreign relations
Military
The Romaian Armed Forces (Ένοπλες Δυναμίες της Ρωμανίας) are the military and paramilitary forces of Romaia, the commander-in-chief is the Emperor of Romaia, Ioannis IV. The next military authorities in line are the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence. The fourth military authority of the State is the Chief of the Defence Staff. The Defence Staff (Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας) assists the Chief of the Defence Staff as auxiliary body.
They consist of the Romaian Army (Ρωμαικός Στράτος), Romaian Navy (Πολεμικό Ναυτικό), the Romaian Air Force (Πολεμική Αεροπορία), National Gendarmerie (Εθνική Χωροφυλακή), the Airborne coprs (Σώμα Αερομεταφερόμενων) and the Marine corps (Σώμα Πεζοναυτών).
The Romaian Army is the national ground defence force. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Ares fighting vehicle and Heracles II tank.
An autonomous corps of the military, the Chorofylaki are the gendarmerie and military police of Romaia, policing the military and civilian population alongside Romaia's other police forces. While the different branches of the Chorofylaki report to separate ministries for each of their individual functions, the corps reports to the Ministry of Internal Affairs when maintaining public order and security
Administrative divisions
Romaia is constituted by 20 regions (περιφέριες), departments (νόμοι) or metropolies (μητροπολίες), and municipalities (δήμοι).
Arms | Regions | Population | % | Capital | Number of departments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apollonia | Example | Example | Constantinoupoli | Example | |
Aidonia | Example | Example | Nikomidia | Example | |
Klaudia | Example | Example | Adras | Example | |
Eusebia | Example | Example | Loukania | Example | |
Galatia | Example | Example | Nikaia | Example | |
Kephallonia | Example | Example | Ikonia | Example | |
Pontis | Example | Example | Poseidonia | Example | |
Parthinia | Example | Example | Kelendria | Example | |
Tauria | Example | Example | Amos | Example | |
Seleukia | Example | Example | Salona | Example | |
Chalkitania | Example | Example | Lakedonia | Example | |
Ikaria | Example | Example | Silivria | Example | |
Pallania | Example | Example | Narona | Example | |
Illia | Example | Example | Sevastoupoli | Example | |
Kolonia | Example | Example | Korkyra | Example | |
Imperia | Example | Example | Plataia | Example | |
Ammeria | Example | Example | Tyras | Example | |
Philadelphia | Example | Example | Philadelphia | Example | |
Herminia | Example | Example | Panormo | Example | |
Samonitia | Example | Example | Sozona | Example |
Economy
Agriculture
According to archaeological data the first agricultural settlements began in Romaia around the 2th millennium BC. Archaeologists have clearly identified the paths followed by the first Anatolian peasants who spread the Neolithic Revolution across Romaia, primarily on the Pontic and Illian coast and along Therma. Initially they arrived from Europe by sea, where they founded agricultural villages similar to those of the Fertile Crescent.
According to the last national agricultural census, there were 1.8 million farms in 2010. The vast majority (94%) are family-operated and small, averaging only 8 ha (20 acres) in size. Of the total surface area in agricultural use (forestry excluded), grain fields take up 21%, olive tree orchards 18.2%, vineyards 5.4%, citrus orchards 3.8%, sugar beets 1.7%, and horticulture 2.4%. The remainder is primarily dedicated to pastures (25.9%) and feed grains (11.6%).
Romaia is one of the leading producers of olive oil, fruits (apples, olives, grapes, oranges, lemons, pears, apricots, hazelnuts, peaches, cherries, plums, strawberries and kiwifruits), and vegetables (especially artichokes and tomatoes).
Quality goods in which Romaia specialises, particularly wines and regional cheeses, are often protected under the quality assurance labels PDO. This geographical indication certificate, which is attributed by the government, is considered important in order to avoid confusion with low-quality mass-produced ersatz products.
Transport
Romaias's railway network, which stretches TBD kilometres (TBD mi) as of 2019,is one of the most extensive in the world. It is operated by the ESA, and high-speed trains include the AYT, which travels at 320 km/h (199 mph). Rail connections exist to all other neighbouring countries. Intra-urban connections are also well developed, with most major cities having underground or tramway services complementing bus services. ESA (Imperial Railway Company) is the major Romaian railway infrastructure and service operator. Though ESA is a private company, the government still holds all shares and therefore ESA can still be called a state-owned company. Since its reformation under private law in 2001, ESA SA no longer publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the ESA system there are about 280 privately or locally owned railway companies which use ESA tracks in open access.
There are approximately TBD kilometres (TBD mi) of serviceable roadway in Romaia. Romaian roads also handle substantial international traffic, connecting with cities in neighbouring countries. The Romaian motorways called (Αυτοκινητοδρομοι). The speed limit is 130 km/h. The Motorway network had a total length of about 6,870 kilometres (4,268 mi) in 2019, which ranks it among the most dense and longest systems in the world. They have their own, green-coloured signs and their own numbering system. All motorways are named by using the capital letter A, followed by a blank and a number (for example A 8).
There are TBD airports in Romaia. Constantinos Forza Airport, located in the vicinity of Constantinoupoli, is the largest and busiest airport in the country, handling the vast majority of popular and commercial traffic and connecting Constantinoupoli with virtually all major cities across the world. Aeromaia (Αερωμάια) is the national carrier airline, although numerous private airline companies provide domestic and international travel services. There are ten major ports in Romaia, the largest of which is in Apollonia region, which also is the largest bordering the Pontus Novus.
Demographics
Largest cities
Rank | City | Population | Region |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4.164.388,00 | ![]() |
2 | Nikaia | 2.478.564,00 | Galatia |
3 | Adras | 1.148.294,00 | Klaudia |
4 | Silivria | 678.564,00 | Ikaria |
5 | Korkyra | 652.876,00 | Kolonia |
6 | Philadelphia | 623.780,00 | Philadelphia |
7 | Poseidonia | 615.273,00 | Pontis |
8 | Salona | 592.507,00 | Seleukia |
9 | Lakedonia | 543.248,00 | Chalkitania |
10 | Plataia | 542.210,00 | Imperia |
11 | Sebastoupoli | 417.895,00 | Illia |
12 | Tyras | 381.037,00 | Ammeria |
13 | Nikomidia | 378.120,00 | Aidonia |
14 | Ikonia | 349.019,00 | Kephallonia |
15 | Panormo | 240.414,00 | Herminia |
16 | Sozona | 232.457,00 | Samonitia |
17 | Kelendria | 217.675,00 | Parthinia |
18 | Narona | 211.785,00 | Pallania |
19 | Amos | 198.524,00 | Tauria |
20 | Loukania | 178.973,00 | Eusebia |
Languages
The first textual evidence of the Greek language in Romaia dates back to the 10th century BC. Greek was a widely spoken lingua franca in the Aistarian world and beyond during Classical Antiquity, and would eventually become the official parlance of the Ancient Romaian Kingdom.
During the 19th and 20th centuries there were major disputes known as the Romaian language question, on whether the official language of Romaia should be called Romaian or Greek, shoud the official language be the archaic Katharevousa, created in the end of 19th century and used as the state and scholarly language, or the Dimotiki, the form of the Greek language which evolved naturally from Koine and was the language of the people. The dispute was finally resolved in 1967, when Dimotiki was made the sole official variation of the Greek language, and Katharevousa fell to disuse.
Romaia is today relatively homogeneous in linguistic terms, with a large majority of the native population using Greek as their first or only language. Dialect info TBD.
Twelve "historical minority languages" (TBD) are formally recognised: Italian, Herminian, Romaic and Ladin. A number of other Ethnologue, ISO and UNESCO languages are not recognised by Romaian law.
Romani is also spoken by Christian Roma in other parts of the country. Further minority languages have traditionally been spoken by regional population groups in various parts of the country. Their use has decreased radically in the course of the 20th century through assimilation with the Greek-speaking majority.
The Jewish community in Romaia traditionally spoke Yevanic (Judeo-Greek), today maintained only by a few thousand speakers. Other notable minority languages include Koptic, Italian, Georgian and Armenian.
Education
Romaians have a long tradition of valuing and investing in paideia (education), which was upheld as one of the highest societal values in the Hellenic world.
Compulsory education in Romaia comprises primary schools (Δημοτικό Σχολείο, Dimotikó Scholeio) and gymnasium (Γυμνάσιο). Nursery schools (Παιδικός σταθμός, Paidikós Stathmós) are popular but not compulsory. Kindergartens (Νηπιαγωγείο, Nipiagogeío) are relatively popular but not compulsory as well. Children start primary school aged six and remain there for six years. Attendance at gymnasia starts at age 12 and lasts for three years.
Post-compulsory secondary education in Romaia consists of two school types: unified upper secondary schools (Γενικό Λύκειο, Genikό Lykeiό) and technical–vocational educational schools (Τεχνικά και Επαγγελματικά Εκπαιδευτήρια, "TEE"). Post-compulsory secondary education also includes vocational training institutes (Ινστιτούτα Επαγγελματικής Κατάρτισης, "IEK") which provide a formal but unclassified level of education. As they can accept both Gymnasio (lower secondary school) and Lykeio (upper secondary school) graduates, these institutes are not classified as offering a particular level of education.
According to the Framework Law (TBD), Public higher education "Highest Educational Institutions" (Ανώτατα Εκπαιδευτικά Ιδρύματα, Anótata Ekpaideytiká Idrýmata, "ΑΕΙ") consists of two parallel sectors:the university sector (Universities, Polytechnics, Fine Arts Schools, the Open University) and the Technological sector (Technological Education Institutions (TEI) and the School of Pedagogic and Technological Education). There are also State Non-University Tertiary Institutes offering vocationally oriented courses of shorter duration (2 to 3 years) which operate under the authority of other Ministries. Students are admitted to these Institutes according to their performance at national level examinations taking place after completion of the third grade of Lykeio. Additionally, students over twenty-two years old may be admitted to the Romaian Open University through a form of lottery.
The Romaian education system also provides special kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools for people with special needs or difficulties in learning. There are also specialist gymnasia and high schools offering musical, theological, and physical education.
Eighty-three percent of Romaian adults aged 25–64 have completed upper secondary education. The average Romaian pupil scored 479 in reading literacy, maths and science in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Culture
The Romaian culture has evolved over thousands of years, beginning in Hellenic Nysia and continuing most notably into Ancient Romaia notably influenced by the Roman culture. Other cultures and nations, such as the Ancient Italic states, the Venetian Republic, the Genoese Republic, the British Empire and the Spanish Empire have also left their influence on modern Romaian culture, although historians credit the Romaian Unification with revitalising Romaia and giving birth to a single, cohesive entity of its multi-faceted culture.
Music
Romaian vocal music extends far back into ancient times where mixed-gender choruses performed for entertainment, celebration and spiritual reasons. Instruments during that period included the double-reed aulos and the plucked string instrument, the lyre, especially the special kind called a kithara. Music played an important role in the education system during ancient times. Boys were taught music from the age of six. Later influences from the Roman Empire, Italian city-states and the Byzantine Empire also had effect on Romaian music.
While the new technique of polyphony was developing in the West, the Eastern Orthodox Church resisted any type of change. Therefore, Romaian Medieval music remained monophonic and without any form of instrumental accompaniment. As a result, and despite certain attempts by certain Romaian chanters, Medieval Romaian music was deprived of elements of which in the West encouraged an unimpeded development of art. However, this method which kept music away from polyphony, along with centuries of continuous culture, enabled monophonic music to develop to the greatest heights of perfection.
Sports
The most popular sport in Romaia is football. Romaia's top-flight club football league is named Liga A and is followed by thousands of fans around the world. Other popular team sports in Romaia include basketball, volleyball and rugby. Romaia has a long and successful tradition in individual sports as well. Bicycle racing is a familiar sport in the country.
Cuisine
The Romaian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 2th century BC. Romaian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Italic, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Italian, Jewish and Spanish. Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World with the introduction of items such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine but not introduced in quantity until the 18th century. Romaian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity.
The Mediterranean diet forms the basis of Romaian cuisine, rich in pasta, fish, fruits and vegetables and characterised by its extreme simplicity and variety, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients. Romaian cooks rely chiefly on the quality of the ingredients rather than on elaborate preparation. Dishes and recipes are often derivatives from local and familial tradition rather than created by chefs, so many recipes are ideally suited for home cooking. Ingredients and dishes vary widely by region.
Romaian cuisine relies heavily on traditional products; the country has a large number of traditional specialities. Cheese, cold cuts and wine are central to Romaian cuisine, and with pita, pastry and coffee (specifically espresso) form part of Romaian gastronomic culture. Some sweet desserts include melomakarona, diples and phyllo pastries.
Romaian meal structure is typical of the Mediterranean region and differs from North, Central, and Eastern European meal structure, though it still often consists of breakfast (πρόγευμα), lunch (μεσημεριανό), and supper (δείπνο). However, much less emphasis is placed on breakfast, and breakfast itself is often skipped or involves lighter meal portions than are seen in non-Mediterranean Western countries. Late-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, called μεζές, are also often included in this meal structure.