Fate of Greece : Random Thoughts

Greece could have been in financial turmoil in recent past, while the world bails them out. But this country has given the world lots of philosophers - be it Socrates, Plato, Aristotle etc apart from Alexander the Great.

While I was wondering, why should a country of such high intellectual power face a downfall. Though I could not get a complete answer, I got patches of them. I may be wrong in some of these assumptions. Do think and let me know if you found any answer.

(1) However BIG / GREAT / POWERFUL / RICH / ANCIENT may be country, mismanagement can trigger fall from heights.
(2) There is no immunity that would prevent a country from going bankrupt.
(3) Stop talking about your lineage, history and olden days achievements. If you have to survive today, you need to be competent. No execuse.
(4) May be as Charles Darwin puts it "Survival of Fittest" is an eternal truth - be it wildlife in forest or success in profession/business or survival of countries.
(5) And it seems inevitable, that the future geneations often become complacent on the comfort of family assets / super power nature of countries. As a result after few generations, the fall seems imminent.
(6) To avoid such a situation, every citizen needs to realize, "Every day is a new day. To survive, you will have to be worthy of it."

List of Great Greek Scients / Philosophers / Astronomers from School of Athens:


7th Century B.C.
Thales (636-546)
6th Century B.C.
Anaximander(c.611-c.547 B.C.)
Pythagoras of Samos (c.580-c.520 B.C.)
Anaximenes(d. c. 502)
Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570-480)
Parmenides of Elea(c. 515-c. 445 B.C.)
Heraclitus(fl. 500 B.C.)
5th Century B.C.
Anaxagoras of Clazomenae(c. 499-c. 428 B.C.)
Empedocles of Acragas(c. 492-c. 432 B.C.)
Zeno of Elea(c. 490-c. 430 B.C.)
Leucippus(c. 480-c. 420 B.C.)
Protagoras(480-411 B.C.)
Hippocrates of Chios (c. 470-c. 410 B.C.)
Philolaus(c.470 - c.385)
Socrates(c. 469-399 B.C.)
Democritus(b. c. 460)
Antisthenes(c. 445-c. 365 B.C.)
Xenophon(c. 431 - 355 BC B.C.)
Plato(c. 427-347 B.C.)
Diogenes of Sinope(412-323 B.C.)
4th Century B.C.
Stilpo (Stilpon)(c. 380-330 B.C.)
Aristotle(384-322 B.C.)
Demetrius of Phalerum(c. 350-283 B.C.)
Epicurus(341-271 B.C.)
Pyrrho(c. 270 B.C.)
Zeno of Citium(c. 336-264 B.C.)
Cleanthes(c. 331-232 B.C.)
Euclid(c. 325-265 B.C.)
Aristarchos(c. 310-250 B.C.)
3rd Century B.C.
Chrysippus(c. 280-207 B.C.)
Eratosthenes(276-194 B.C.)
2nd Century B.C.
Panaetius(c. 185-110 B.C.)
Cicero(106-43 B.C.)
Lucretius(c. 98-55 B.C.)
1st Century A.D.
Epictetus(A.D. 50 - 138)
Claudius Ptolemy(c. A.D. 85-c. 165)
2nd Century A.D.
Marcus Aurelius(A.D. 121-180)
3rd Century A.D.
Plotinus(c. A.D. 204-270)
4th Century A.D.
Augustine of Hippo(A.D. 354-430)
Hypatia of Alexandria(c. A.D. 370-415)
5th Century A.D.
Proclus Diadochus(A.D. 8 Feb 411-17 April 485)
Boethius(A.D. 480-525)
529 A.D.
The Byzantine Emperor Justinian closed the schools of Athens.