Ancient Phoenicia was a nation of city-states located in present-day Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Its inhabitants were known as Phoenicians. However, during the time they lived, they were referred to as the Kena'ani. In the Hebrew language, Kena'ani means "merchants." The ancient Phoenicians were one of the earliest groups of traveling merchants. They were known throughout their region as traders of high status. The Phoenicians conducted transit trade extensively. They would take manufactured goods from Babylonia and Egypt and trade with the inhabitants of Persia, Greece and other nations.

CS Question #1: Where would Phoenicia be located in the modern world?

Phoenicia's important city-states were Sidon, Tyre and Berot (modern-day Beirut, Lebanon). These city-states were bound together by trading ties and agreements. Each city-state was ruled on a local level. The Phoenicians were also colonizers. Along their trade routes, they established cities to make trading more efficient. The Phoenicians extended their influence throughout the settlements along the coast of the Levant. They also settled in areas of North Africa, leading to the development of Carthage. They developed sophisticated maritime traditions and the technological knowledge of shipbuilding. The typical Phoenician ship had a keeled hull. This hull sat deep in the water and provided stability to the ship as it sailed across seas and oceans. The ability to travel the seas of the ancient world established the Phoenician people as traders, merchants, colonizers and even explorers.

CS Question #2: What is a city-state?

Carthage developed as an important maritime and commercial power in the Western Mediterranean. The Phoenicians also established a series of colonies as stepping stones along the route to Spain. Spain was important because it contained a great wealth of mineral resources. Phoenician exports included cedar and pine wood, fine linens from Tyre, Byblos and Berytos, and clothes dyed with the famous Tyrian purple dye extracted from a snail. They also exported and traded in wine, metalwork, glass, salt and dried fish. By using colonies to store goods, trade with other nations, and as ports for their ships, the Phoenicians became very influential throughout the region. Phoenician ships are sometimes depicted in frescos painted on Egyptian tombs.

CS Question #3: How did the Phoenicians' colonies benefit them in trade activities?

The Phoenicians had several advantages that provided them with commercial power. Their maritime technology and their understanding of navigation allowed them to sail almost anywhere in the ancient world. The Phoenicians also developed their own written language. This allowed them to document their many sales and purchases. The Phoenicians wrote in cuneiform, an ancient Mesopotamian written language. For trading purposes they developed a script of their own. The Phoenician alphabet was comprised of 22 letters. It was used primarily in the city-state of Byblos. Later, the Greeks would adopt the Phoenician alphabet and pass it on to the Romans. The Roman alphabet would serve as a base for most of the Romantic languages of Europe, including English. Their alphabet is one of the Phoenicians' primary contributions to Western arts and culture.

CS Question #4: What advantages did the Phoenicians possess that provided them with such commercial power?

Further Thought:

1. Why do you think trading was so important to the ancient world?
2. Why would something as common as dried fish or cloth be traded in the ancient world?
3. Some historians believe the Phoenicians crossed the Atlantic and conducted trade with South America. Research the topic and see what evidence you can find to support or dispel this theory.