Phoenicia
Purple dye traders
Phoenicia was an ancient civilization along the eastern Mediterranean coast, roughly where Lebanon sits today.
The Phoenicians were seafaring traders who dominated Mediterranean commerce from around 1500 to 300 BCE.
Their most lasting contribution was the alphabet—a writing system that became the ancestor of Greek, Latin, Arabic, and Hebrew scripts.
The Phoenicians established colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Carthage.
Historic Phoenician maritime center
- LebanonMideast coastal nation
- CanaanAncient Palestinian region
- LevantEastern Mediterranean coastal region
- coastlineLand-water boundary
Beirut · Tripoli · Mediterranean · Mount Lebanon · coastal plains · Fertile Crescent
Those who conduct commerce
- commerceExchange of goods, services
- purple dyeColoring agent, violet hue
- murexSpiny marine gastropod genus
- glassmakingCreating transparent solid objects
Tyrian purple · commodities · exports · imports · amphorae · ivory · metalwork · trade networks
Of the sea
- navigationDetermining position and course
- sailorsMaritime vessel crew members
- galleysOar-powered ancient warships
- shipbuildingConstructing maritime vessels
trade routes · exploration · colonization · harbors · anchorage · seamanship · oarsmen · nautical
Early metalworking civilization period
- Iron AgePost-bronze historical period
- city-statesSelf-governing urban territories
- CanaanitesAncient Near Eastern people
- AssyriansAncient Mesopotamian empire builders
Persians · Alexander · Hittites · Egyptians · Babylonians · tribute · vassal states · archaeological sites
Phoenician colony that challenged Rome
- PunicOf ancient Carthage
- HannibalCarthaginian military commander
- CadizAndalusian coastal city
- MaltaMediterranean island country
Sardinia · Sicily · Iberia · North Africa · Utica · colonial settlements · trading posts · Punic Wars
Written words for performance
- writingRecorded language on surface
- lettersAlphabetic characters or mail
- consonantsLetters that aren't vowels
- inscriptionText permanently marked
transmission · Greek alphabet · Hebrew script · Aramaic · literacy · epigraphy · characters · decipherment
Ancient Canaanite deity
- AdonisExceptionally attractive man
- templesHoly places or head sides
- polytheismBelief in multiple deities
- mythologyBody of traditional tales
Tyre
Historic Phoenician maritime center
- LebanonMideast coastal nation
- CanaanAncient Palestinian region
- LevantEastern Mediterranean coastal region
coastline · Beirut · Tripoli · Mediterranean · Mount Lebanon · coastal plains · Fertile Crescent
merchants
Those who conduct commerce
- commerceExchange of goods, services
- purple dyeColoring agent, violet hue
- murexSpiny marine gastropod genus
glassmaking · Tyrian purple · commodities · exports · imports · amphorae · ivory · metalwork · trade networks · emporiums
maritime
Of the sea
- navigationDetermining position and course
- sailorsMaritime vessel crew members
- galleysOar-powered ancient warships
shipbuilding · trade routes · exploration · colonization · harbors · anchorage · seamanship · oarsmen · nautical · cargo vessels
Bronze Age
Early metalworking civilization period
- Iron AgePost-bronze historical period
- city-statesSelf-governing urban territories
- CanaanitesAncient Near Eastern people
Assyrians · Persians · Alexander · Hittites · Egyptians · Babylonians · tribute · vassal states · archaeological sites · sarcophagi
Carthage
Phoenician colony that challenged Rome
Malta · Sardinia · Sicily · Iberia · North Africa · Utica · colonial settlements · trading posts · Punic Wars · diaspora
script
Written words for performance
- writingRecorded language on surface
- lettersAlphabetic characters or mail
- consonantsLetters that aren't vowels
inscription · transmission · Greek alphabet · Hebrew script · Aramaic · literacy · epigraphy · characters · decipherment · Proto-Sinaitic
Baal
Ancient Canaanite deity
- AdonisExceptionally attractive man
- templesHoly places or head sides
- polytheismBelief in multiple deities
mythology · priesthood · rituals · sacred groves · fertility cults
- ancient civilizationsAncient Egypt, Sumer, Ancient Greece, Aztecs, Egypt
- ancient worldancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, pyramids, pyramid
- Middle EastIraq, Baghdad, Cairo, Iran, Jordan
- Ancient KingdomsPersia, Babylon, Assyria, Sumer, Kush
- Ancient LevantCanaan, Canaanites, Levant, Tyre, Damascus
- Ancient Near EastMesopotamia, Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, Assyrian Empire
PhoeniciaPersian Empire
Ancient Iranian imperial dominion
- Phoenician alphabetAncient consonantal writing system