Greece developed one of the earliest advanced civilizations through achievements in culture, science, industry, and government. The Greek language was one of the first major written European languages and influenced the development of Western culture through important works like the Odyssey and Illiad. Much of the history of the ancient world was recorded in Greek, which also served as a universal language or lingua franca for trade and diplomacy between different nations. The Rosetta Stone helped unlock the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphics by including a Greek translation.