ATHENS
At the End of 17th Century
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During the First Period of the Turkish Occupation, the population in Athens reached the twelve thousand, while at the end of 17th century it was decreased to nine thousand.
The oppression and the continuous prosecutions forced the Athenians to abandon their city and settle down in the Ionian Islands, in Peloponnese and in Europe.
Athens looked like a village with narrow streets and small houses, surrounded by yards wit tall walls.
The elders’ spacious residences could be distinguished among the other houses. Some of them even held houses in rural regions in Ampelokipous, Paradeisia, Kifissia, Maroussi and Kypseli.
The city was divided in districts (called “mahalades”), each of which was created round a church.
Opposite of Dionysus’ theatre, in the current Makrygianni region, as well as in the east, lived the Albanians, who were the guardians of the city.
The Turks’ slaves Ethiopians used Olympion as their adoration place, while the Gipsy worked as steelworkers and musicians or even executioners for the Greek prisoners.
During the Turkish Occupation, the Francs are not much mentioned.
However, through the whole period, many visitors came to Athens from the West Europe. Many of them wrote down their experiences and gave precious elements for the life in the city, while others stole antiquities.
Two monastic battalions that had been installed in Athens contributed a lot to Athens’ life.
The Jesuits remained in Athens up to the end of 17th century. However, they caused the reaction of the locals due to their zeal to convert them to their releigion and were forced to withdraw.
The Capuchins were installed in Plaka. The information they gave the visitors was the main material of all ethnographic books published in Europe in 17th century.
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