Romaia
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Romaian Empire Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία (Greek) Romaikí Aftokratoría | |
|---|---|
| Motto: "Εν τούτω νίκα" "In this sign you will conquer" | |
| Anthem: "Η Προσευχή" "the Prayer" | |
 Location of Romaia (dark green) in Eulabia (grey) | |
| Capital and largest city | Constantinoupoli |
| Official language and national language | Greek |
| Ethnic groups | Romaians |
| Religion |
|
| Demonym(s) | Romaian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Emperor | Ioannis IV |
• Prime Minister | Leon Sakellarios |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Senate | |
| National Assembly | |
| Establishment | |
• Kingdom of Romaia | 12 April 1805 |
• Romaian Empire | 1 October 1868 |
• Current Constitution | 4 December 1967 |
| Area | |
• Total | 576,035 km2 (222,408 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 1.05% |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 59.576.148 (10th) |
• 2019 census | 57.318.243 |
• Density | 99.5/km2 (257.7/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2022 estimate |
• Total | $2.864 trillion |
• Per capita | $48,090 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $2.628 trillion (7th) |
• Per capita | $44,116 (3rd) |
| Gini (2019) | 38.7 medium (5th) |
| HDI (2019) |  0.909very high (2nd) |
| Currency | Romaian Lira (£) (RLI) |
| Time zone | UTC +3 (EET) |
| Date format | dd.mm.yyyy (AD) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +40 |
| 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 located in the South of the Pontus in Southeastern Eulabia. The country covers a total are of 576035 km2 (222408.4 sq.mi) and shares land borders with Isfahan, Haramoun and Grahnol. With around 60 million inhabitants, Romaia is the [TBD]-most populous state of Eulabia. Due to its geographical location at the border between Eulabia and TBD, 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 Hellenic peoples, beginning from the Bronze Age, Hellenics established settlements in the Western Romaia, while Celts and Italics inhabited Eastern Romaia.
During the Middle Ages, Romaian Kingdom endured numerous Barbarian and Islamic invasions, but by the 16th century, numerous city-states and maritime republics, mainly in the Western regions of Romaia, became prosperous through trade, commerce, and banking, laying the groundwork for modern capitalism. These mostly independent statelets served as Eulabia's main trading hubs with Eulabia and the Eastern world, often enjoying a greater degree of democracy than the larger feudal monarchies that were consolidating throughout Eulabia. The Renaissance spread in Romaia 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 Eulabia. Romaia covers an area of 576035 km2 a largely temperate seasonal climate and the Mediterranean climate.
The area of Romaia extends from the Pontus Novus and the Illian sea to the Strymonian Mountains. It is bordered by Haramoun to the south, Isfahan to the east and Grahnol to the North.
Romaia has a very high level of human development and has one the highest life expectancy in Eulabia. 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 founding and leading member of the Eulabian Community and a member of many international organizations including EDC and GDI. As a reflection of its extensive cultural wealth, Romaia is one of the most visited countries in Eulabia.
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. 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. Nowadays it's almost impossible to determine ethnic composition of Romaians as Romaia throughout ages have been a melting pot of many different peoples.
History
Prehistory and antiquity
The earliest evidence of the presence of human ancestors in Romaia, dated to 270,000 BC, is to be found in the Samarina cave, in Illia. All three stages of the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic) are represented in Romaia.
Romaia is home to the first advanced civilizations in Eulabia, beginning with the Leukian civilization in the modern Seleukia, the Makednes civilization on the islands of the Illian Sea at around 3200 BC, the Galatian civilization in Galatia (2700–1500 BC), and then the Herminian civilization on the mainland (1600–1100 BC). The Herminians gradually absorbed the Illians, but collapsed violently around 1150 BC, along with other civilizations, during the regional event known as the Late Bronze Age collapse. This ushered in a period known as the Hellenic Dark Ages, from which written records are absent.
Ancient Herminia
The Iavonic colonisation of modern-day Romaia has begun in 8th century BC.
With colonization, Iavonic culture was exported to Romaia in its dialects of the Ancient Greek language, its religious rites and its traditions of the independent polis. An original Hellenic civilization soon developed and later interacted with the native Celtic civilisations.
Italic invasion
The first Italic tribes to step into Romaian soil were Euganoi, vorbicoi and molscoi. They settled the Northern part of the Romaian coast founding colonies. Italic culture spread across Western Romaia with increase of trade between Iavonics and Italics.
Pre-Hellenic Indo-europeans:
Italo-celtic: Italic: Eugani, Vorbici, Molsci, Celtic: Gallanici, Gelloi, Hernici,
Hellenics: Ellines, Dorici
Middle Ages
Early Modern
The Eastern War
Unification
The Empire
Mauromatis regime
World War II
Contemporary Romaia
Geography
The Romaian territory is situated in Southeastern Eulabia. It is bordered by the Pontus Novus in the west, the Strymonian mountains in the east and the Illian sea in the south. Its land borders consist of Haramoun in the south, Isfahan in the east, and Grahnol in the north. Most of Romaia's land borders are roughly delineated by natural boundaries and geographic features: to the east, the Strymonian mountains and the Pontus Novus to the west. The country is encircled by seas on three sides: the Illian sea to the south, the Pontus Novus to the wesr and the Strymonian mountains to the east. The country's total area is 576035 km2 (222408.4 sq.mi).
Romaia is situated mostly between latitudes 36° and 43° N, and longitudes TBD° W and TBD° E, on the southern edge of Eulabia, and thus lies within the northern temperate zone.
The climate of Romaia is primarily Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The mountainous areas of Central Romaia (parts of Galatia, Aidonia) feature an Alpine climate with heavy snowfalls. Snowfalls occur every year in the mountains and central and Eastern areas.
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
|
|
| Ioannis IV Emperor |
Leon Sakellarios Prime Minister |
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 14 February 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
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
The foreign relations of the Romaian Empire are the Romaian government's external relations with the outside world. Located in Eulabia, Romaia has been considered a major Western power since its unification in 1868. Its main allies are the ESTO and GDI countries and the EC states, three entities of which Romaia is a founding member. Romaia is a member and a strong supporter of a wide number of international organisations, such as the GDI and the Council of Eulabia.
Romaia is an important actor in the Pontus region and has close relations with the Greek-speaking countries in Eulabia and Hasua. Romaia is currently commanding various multinational forces and has significant troops deployed all over the world for peacekeeping missions, and for combating organized crime, illegal drug trade, human trafficking, piracy and terrorism.
Military
The Romaian Armed Forces (Ρωμαικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις) 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. According to a 2018 study by RCG Group, the Romaian Armed Forces are the third most powerful in Eulabia after Commonwealth of Eulabia. Romaia's annual military expenditure in 2019 was NS$80 billion, or 2.9% of its GDP. There has been no national conscription since 1997. 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).
Romaia has been a recognised nuclear state since 1960. The Romaian nuclear force consists of four TBD class submarines equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles. In addition to the submarine fleet, it is estimated that Romaia has about 60 ASMP medium-range air-to-ground missiles with nuclear warheads, of which around 50 are deployed by the Air Force using the Typhonas aircraft, while around 10 are deployed by the Navy's attack aircraft, which operate from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Konstantinos VI.
Romaia has major military industries with one of the largest aerospace industries in the world. Its industries have produced such equipment as the Typhonas fighter, the Konstantinos VI aircraft carrier, the TBD missile and the Heracles 2 tank among others.
The Romaian Army is the national ground defence force. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Ares fighting vehicle and Heracles 2 tank.
An autonomous corps of the military, the Chorofylaki is 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 the Interior when maintaining public order and security
Administrative divisions
Romaia is constituted by 20 regions (περιφέριες), departments (νόμοι) or metropolies (μητροπολίες), and municipalities (δήμοι). This is a list of regions in Romaia:
| 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 |
 |
Cephallonia | Example | Example | Ikonia | Example |
 |
Pontis | Example | Example | Poseidonia | Example |
 |
Parthinia | Example | Example | Celendria | 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
Romaia has a major advanced capitalist mixed economy, one of the largest in Eulabia and one of the most industrialised in the world, leading in imports and exports. It's a highly developed country renowned by innovative, creative and technologically advanced business with a competitive agricultural and industrial sectors (including automotive, aerospace, defence, design, fashion, food and IT industries).
Romaia is characterised by a smaller number of global multinational corporations than other economies of comparable size and many dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises, notoriously clustered in several industrial districts, which are the backbone of the Romaian industry. This has produced a manufacturing sector often focused on the export of niche market and luxury products, that if on one side is less capable to compete on the quantity, on the other side is more capable of facing the competition from Hasuan economies based on lower labour costs, with higher quality products.
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 such as Pergamou Livadias, 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
Rail 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 Romaian Rail, and high-speed trains include the TYT, 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. Romaian Rail is the major Romaian railway infrastructure and service operator. Though Romaian Rail is a private company, the government still holds all shares and therefore Romaian Rail can still be called a state-owned company. Since its reformation under private law in 2001, Romaian Rail no longer publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the Romaian Rail system there are about 280 privately or locally owned railway companies which use ESA tracks in open access.
Highways
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).
Air transport
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.
Tourism
Romaia has been a touristic destination for years starting from Early Modern.
Factors of tourist interest in Romaia are mainly culture, cuisine, history, fashion, architecture, art, religious sites and routes, naturalistic beauties, nightlife, underwater sites and spas. Winter and summer tourism are present in many locations in the Mountains, while seaside tourism is widespread in coastal locations on the Pontus. Romaia is the leading cruise tourism destination in the Eastern Pontus.
The most visited regions of Romaia, measured by nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments, are Apollonia, Illia, Galatia, Philadelphia and Klaudia. Constantinoupoli is the TBD most visited city in Eulabia and the TBD in the world, with TBD million arrivals in 2017 while Nikaia is the TBD worldwide with TBD million tourists. In addition, Nauplia and Salona are also among the world's top 100 destinations.
Demographics
Largest cities
| Rank | City | Population | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Constantinoupoli |
4.164.388,00 |  Apollonia
|
| 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 | Pelagonia |
| 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 | Celendria | 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 Pontus region, especially in its Eastern part 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.
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 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.
Religion
The Romaian Constitution recognises Eastern Orthodoxy as the 'prevailing' faith of the country, while guaranteeing freedom of religious belief for all. According to the 2019 polls, an estimated 89% of Romaian citizens identify themselves as Eastern Orthodox, belonging to the Romaian Orthodox Church, which uses the Byzantine rite and the Greek language, the original language of the New Testament.
Catholics made up 4% of the total population in 2017. The Catholic community is represented by indigeneous Catholic population and has increased in size in recent years due to immigration.
Protestants, including Romaian Evangelical Church stand at about TBD. The official church, Eastern Orthodox, and the State reluctantly gave permission for Pentecostal churches to operate legally. The process of receiving permission from the Ministry of Justice to operate as a church is becoming easier.
The Paulicians in Romaia dates back centuries, when Haramounians settled in the Southern Romaia for various reasons such as war or business.
Religions with smaller numbers of followers include Islam (comprising 1% of the population), Evangelicalism, Hellenic Paganism, Zoroastrism and Hinduism.
A small number of Romaian Atheists exists, not self-identifying as religious. Religion is key part of identity for most Romaians, with 78% of Romaians in a 2015-17 survey saying that their nationality is defined by Christianity. Statistics on metaphysics and worldview, do not concern narrowly only the hyponym religion.
Religion in Romaia (2019)
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 Ancient Hellenic city-states in Romaia and continuing most notably into Ancient Romaia notably influenced by the Italic culture. Other cultures and nations, such as the Ancient Celtic states, Persians, Haramounians 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.
The arts
The Early Medieval Romaian art is mostly religious and with exceptions at certain periods is highly conventionalised, following traditional models that translate carefully controlled church theology into artistic terms. Painting in fresco, illuminated manuscripts and on wood panel and, especially in earlier periods, mosaic were the main media, and figurative sculpture very rare except for small carved ivories. Manuscript painting preserved to the end some of the classical realist tradition that was missing in larger works. The Medieval Romaian art was highly prestigious and sought-after in Western Eulabia, where it maintained a continuous influence on medieval art until near the end of the period. Romaian art became formative influences on Renaissance art. But few incoming influences affected the Romaian style. With the expansion of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Romaian forms and styles spread throughout the Orthodox world and beyond.
Romaian architecture is known for the use of domes, and pendentive architecture was invented in the Romaian Kingdom. It also often featured marble columns, coffered ceilings and sumptuous decoration, including the extensive use of mosaics with golden backgrounds. The building material used by Romaian architects was no longer marble, which was very appreciated by the Ancient Iavonians. They used mostly stone and brick, and also thin alabaster sheets for windows. Mosaics were used to cover brick walls, and any other surface where fresco wouldn't resist. Helleno-Italic temples and Romaian churches differ substantially in terms of their exterior and interior aspect. In Antiquity, the exterior was the most important part of the temple, because in the interior, where the cult statue of the deity to whom the temple was built was kept, only the priest had access. The ceremonies here held outside, and what the worshipers view was the facade of the temple, consisting of columns, with an entablature and two pediments. Meanwhile, Christian liturgies were held in the interior of the churches, the exterior usually having little to no ornamentation.
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 Hellenic, Jewish and Isfahani. 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 Eulabian 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.
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