After the conquests of Alexander the Great it was spoken as far east as India, and later was adopted as a second language by the Roman Empire.

• 二十世纪六十年代起工业迅速发展。制造业已占国民总产值首位。有冶金、电子、化学、纺织、造船和食品等部门。输出工业品、矿产、烟草，水果、皮革等。输入石油、粮食、机器等。