The period from the second half of the 18th century until the middle of the nineteenth century is characterised with many common features in the development of the Balkan cultural space, which together with socio-political and economic factors help to explain phenomena from the lives of the Balkan peoples. This particular article discusses the role of the Greek language for the ideological growth of the intelligentsia in the Balkans. A thoroughly learned Greek language gives the possibility of access to greek literature, through which it touches not only the Greek, but also to European literary models. From these the intelligentsia draws ideas to form their views on the main issues of the period. Undoubtedly, Greek schooling is important for the development of a national identity and linguistic selfawareness of Bulgarians and Romanians.