In this lecture Ourania Katavouta will give an introduction to the history of Modern Greek Literature. She will talk briefly about the historical facts and the important literary works of a broad period, starting from the late Byzantine era (11th century), moving to the Ottoman Empire (1453), the Cretan Renaissance and the Hellenic Enlightenment till the Revolution of Independence in 1821, which led to the formation of the modern Greek state. In this broad historic period, what were the most representative literary works? Who were the most important poets, authors and scholars? Ourania Katavouta will begin with the first literary text written in modern Greek language, the epic poem of “Digenis Akritas” and later on she will present “Erotokritos”, the most popular romance in verse that was produced during the Cretan Renaissance. Then, she will give a brief account of the most important scholars of the Hellenic Enlightenment and she will finish with the poet Dionysios Solomos, whose poem “Hymn to the Liberty” became Greece’s national hymn.