Between the ranges lies a wide plain, the chief agricultural region. Over three quarters of the population is Greek, generally occupies the southern sector of the country, and belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Religious minorities include the Maronites and Armenian Orthodox. In addition to Greek and Turkish, English is also widely spoken. Sheep, goats, poultry, hogs, and some cattle are raised.
Tourism is important for both areas but has been affected by political instability.
Mineral resources include copper, pyrites, chrome, asbestos, and gypsum. Timber is also important. The Greek sector is considerably more prosperous than the Turkish side, which is heavily dependent on aid from Turkey. 3 History Excavations have proved the existence of a Neolithic culture on Cyprus in the period from 6000 B.C. to 3000 B.C. Contact with the Middle East and, after 1500 B.C. , with Greece greatly influenced Cypriot civilization. Alexander the Great conquered it in 333 B.C. , after which the island again became an Egyptian dependency until its annexation by Rome in 58 B.C. Ancient Cyprus was a center of the cult of Aphrodite.