Δόμνα Ιορδανίδου
Department of History and Archaeology, School of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, 2021
Type: Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to shed light on the situation that emerged in the mining industry in Greece after the annexation of a part of Macedonia following the Balkan wars and that of Western Thrace a decade later till the II World War. I begin my narrative exploring the status of the mines in the region during the Ottoman period, as given through the eyes of travelers and earth-scientists, through the legislation and francophone Press and I focus especially on the late period of the Ottoman dominion in Macedonia, when 4 mining enterprises came into life. After that, I follow the fate of these enterprises when the zone is part of the Greek state. Great emphasis is given to lignite, the local energy fossil mineral and  the discussion that started at the beginning of the 20th century among specialists known as “the  lignite question”. Particular reference is also made to the emergence of the “national mines” – among them a lot of lignite mines. Regarding the foreign investment I could say that the investment of the British capital was of major interest. An example is set by the magnesite mines. Gold is of interest for daydreamers, opportunists and capitalists, Greeks or foreigners. The last chapter is dedicated to the labour force. Recapitulating, mines in Northern Greece were consisted mostly of little private enterprises with limited work force and almost non-existent technological advances. The mining products, except lignite, targeted the global markets and as a result, the fate of the enterprises was very much dependent on the given circumstances.  Nevertheless, big mining enterprises did exist, located in two different regions: Chalkidiki and the island of Thassos.

 

Supervisor: Leda Papastefanaki