The Phoenicians Civilization began in the Mediterranean Sea Dominated sea trade across Mediterranean Developed from early Canaanites in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria Phoenician civilization consisted of independent city- states Rulers were usually priest-kings Priest-kings shared power with leading merchant families and a citizen assembly

Geography influenced Phoenician Life Lebanon mountains to the East Heavily forested; not much land to farm Sold purple cloth for high prices Craft workers made pottery and glass and metal objects Used trees to make furniture Few natural resources Dependent on trade with other cultures Imported (brought in) raw materials Gold, silver, tin, ivory, iron, etc. Exported (produced and sold) goods made of these materials Iron tools, weapons, wine, olive oil

Phoenicians and the Sea Location was ideal for sea trade Driven to find precious metals Right between Europe, Asia, and Africa Experts in navigation Great knowledge of wind patterns and ocean currents Used North Star to calculate location Explored islands in Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, and North African Coast Explored Atlantic Ocean towards Britain and West Africa

Phoenician colonies and city-states Trading Stations became colonies as populations grew Colony: area ruled by a distinct country Some colonies became wealthy city-states Carthage (North Africa) Destroyed later by Romans

Legacy of the Phoenicians Cultural Diffusion: Phoenicians’ culture was learned by Romans and Greeks. Trade made it possible for their culture to spread Greeks used Phoenician standard of weights and measures Developed an alphabet with 22 symbols that made writing much easier (cuneiform had hundreds of symbols) 750 B.C.E: Greeks already using Phoenician alphabet to trade Greeks added vowels to alphabet 100 B.C.E: Romans adapted this alphabet, which looked a lot like ours