Macedonia Map

population following it. Islam is also practiced in the country; there are 400 mosques in Macedonia.

History
The history of Macedonia goes back to the fourth century BC, when both Athens and Sparta had exhausted themselves by fighting against each other for thirty long years. The Macedonians were considered "barbarians" and were looked down upon by the Greeks. However, Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great, conquered the whole of Greece. During the sixth century BC, the country saw the rise and fall of many empires, such as the Byzantine Empire, Norman rule and the Bulgarian Empire. In the fourteenth century, Macedonia was occupied by Nemanja dynasty under King Dusan. However, the Turkish Empire was also ruling and this created a divide between the two empires.

The first Balkan War (1912) was an important event in the history of the country, as it got liberated from the Turks. Thereafter, too, many battles were fought, like the Second Balkan War (1913), and other battles during the two World Wars. The country finally achieved independence on September 8, 1991 from Yugoslavia.

Economy
The Republic of Macedonia is an open economy. Macedonian Dinar (MKD) is the official currency of the country. The per capita nominal GDP was $4,431 in 2010. Trade accounts for more than ninety percent of the GDP. Mining, tourism, agriculture, transport and communications are other major industries. The country exports food, beverages, tobacco, textiles, iron and steel; while the major imports are machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, and food products. Serbia and Montenegro, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Croatia are the major trading partners.