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The Phoenicians[[File:Phoen 3.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Statue of Baal]]==Introduction==__NOTOC__The Phoenicians are among the most important influential people in the Ancient world. These people decisively shaped the culture and the economy of the Levant and greatly influenced the Ancient Greeks, Etruscans, Hebrews, and many others. Sadly, we only know them from the writings of other cultures. Among their contributions to civilization was the development of a phonetic alphabet and a pan-Mediterranean economy.  They are also believed to have pioneered new pioneered new political systems that were very influential and influenced other civilizations in the Middle East. Their neighbors also adopted many of their cultural practices were adopted by their neighbors. They are widely believed to have helped to establish create the Classical World centered on the Mediterranean, which gave birth to the Western world. ==Who were the Phoenicians?== [[File: Phoen 32.jpg|200px250px|thumb|left|Statue of BaalAn inscription with words in the Phoenician alphabet]]==The history of the Phoenicians== The Phoenicians were a Semitic people who primarily inhabited the coast of the Eastern MediterraneanLebanon, but they may also have lived in what is now parts of modern Syria and LebanonIsreal. Archaeological evidence indicates that they were related to the Levant's Ancient people, known as Canaanites, in the Bible.  The Phoenicians emerged in history about 1800 BC, during the Early Bronze Age. They occupied a narrow strip of land coast, and they were surrounded by stronger kingdoms stronger kingdoms and Empires surrounded them.<ref> Moscati, Sabatino The World of the Phoenicians (NY: Frederick A. Praeger, 1995, p. 34) </ref>. This forced them to become Because they had limited land, they became a highly urbanized and to become society that relied on seafarers and merchantsto survive. The main cities in Phoenicia were Tyre, Sidon, Arwad, Berytus, and Bybloswere the most critical cities in Phoenicia. It appears that they  While Phoenicia started as a monarchy over time, it developed complex a sophisticated and innovative political systemssystem. The cities were often rivals’ but often cooperated on maritime and trading matters and often sometimes formed a league of city-statesleague. At times , one urban center would dominate the others , as was the Tyre's case with Tyre, which dominated Phoenicia in the 9th century BC.  The wealth of the cities meant that they were predatory kings often targeted by predatory kingsthem. The Phoenicians came under the sway of the Pharaohs until about 1250 BCBCE. The invasions of the Sea-peoples led to the collapse of the Egyptian Empire. This led to the economic and cultural flourishing of the Phoenicians. Based on the archaeological evidence, it seems that there was a great deal of continuity in Phoenician society and culture, but they also absorbed Babylonian and Egyptian influences .<ref> Moscati, p 14</ref>.  The urban population in Phoenicia exploded in the 9th and 8th centuries BC. They had already established a number of several trading posts from Spain to the Levant, which they then expanded expanding into colonies. In 814 BCBCE, colonists from Tyre settled in what became Carthage, during the reign of King Pygmalion. The kings of Tyre were able to establish an informal empire that included all of the Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians remained the Levant's dominant sea power in the Levant even under pressure from when they became the neoNeo-Assyrian Empire's vassals.  However, the Persian Empire's rise Persians Empire was to deal with a blow to end the golden age of Phoenicia , especially after the fall capture of Tyre in 585 BCBCE, by Cyrus the Great. The Despite this, the Phoenicians remained wealthy and remained maritime powers, because they had a great deal of autonomy, even under Persian domination. The decline of the Phoenicians was gradual, and they eventually lost all their autonomy in the aftermath of the conquests of Alexander the Great. They became Hellenized, over . Over the years , they lost their cultural and religious identity.<ref> Moscati, p 14</ref>. ==What was the Phoenician economy, society, and religion like?== [[File: Phoen 24.jpg |200px250px|thumb|left| A Tophet where allegedly human sacrifices took placewere allegedly held]]==Phoenician economy, society, and religion== The Phoenicians The Phoenicians were great explorers , and it is believed that Hanno, explored the west coast of African in the 7th century BC. There are even some sources that claim argue that they visited the British IslesBritain and Ireland. The city-states had large fleets , and they pioneered the development of the multi-tiered oared galley, which was revolutionarythe most advanced ship in the period. The Phoenicians became great sailors in an effort to secure resources and to engaged engage in tradecommerce. The economies of cities such as Tyre were dependent on manufacturing and trade. They exported cedar wood all over the Mediterranean and were renowned for their production of purple dyesproduction, which were was very popular with ancient monarchs.  The Phoenicians, like the Hebrews, who were related people, were very religious people. Their chief god was Baal and many of the Phoenician gods derived from the Canaanites' religion of the Canaanites. Each city has its own titular deity, for . For example, Melqart was the patron deity of Tyre .<ref>Clifford, Richard J. "Phoenician religion." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 279, no. 1 (1990): 55-64 </ref>. It has been claimed that they practiced human sacrifice and in . In particular, they sacrificed children at a Tophet site known as a Tophet, but this is rejected by some historiansreject this. Religious fraternities were very important in Phoenician social and commercial life. [[File: Phoen 4.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Phoenician inscription]]======Phoenician art and culture==== The Phoenicians were famous artists , and Homer in the Odyssey praises their craft persons and artisans .<ref>Homer, Odyssey, iii, 67</ref>. They utilized traditional Canaanite styles and designs. Like many other urban cultures , they were receptive to new ideas and artistic styles, for . For example, they adopted the Egyptian-style of sarcophagi.  There is as such no was no single , distinctive Phoenician artistic style, but they did develop developed new skills and transmitted the art of other peoples ' art across the Levant. Artistic Creative works made in cities such as Sidon were exported all over the Mediterranean to Carthaginian outposts , and they influenced local artists. The Phoenicians played a very important vital role in the development of developing the First Jewish Temple, built by King Solomon, artisans . Artisans sent by the King of Tyre helped in its construction. The cities of Phoenicia played a critical role in the Levant's artistic development of the Levant and beyond<ref> Moscati, p 14</ref>. ==The What was the Phoenician Alphabet==Perhaps the most important cultural innovation of the Phoenicians was the development of the alphabet around 1000 BC. It appears that the Canaanites had developed the first phonetic alphabet , and it was used by several peoples such peoples such as the Moabitesused it. Based on the evidence , it would appear that the Phoenicians contributed to the development of this alphabet , and it appears that they used it widely in their commercial enterprises.  They helped to popularize the use of the alphabet , and many cultures , including the Greeks and Hebrews , adopted it. Over time, many national languages used their writing system. This alphabet was one of the most important inventions in all of human history. It was different from hieroglyphs, used by many societies in the Levant , as it was not based on signs, but on the sounds of speech that people made. The consonants were combined with vowels to form words and sentences and allowed individuals to engage in much more complex communications than previously.  This allowed system permitted bureaucrats and others to keep more effective records and made governments more efficient. Ordinary people, such as traders , could learn the alphabet and become literate, which revolutionized many aspects of life. The impact of this system for writing was to have a profound impact on the Greeks, they adopted it, as they emerged from their Dark Ages. Scholars believe that the Scholars believe that the Hebrew alphabet is a regional variant of the one used in Phoenicia. Today, the script developed and transmitted by the inhabitants of cities such as Sidon, Tyre and Byblos, forms the basis for most of the globe’s alphabets.<ref>Diringer, David, and H. Freeman. A History of the Alphabet (London, Unwin Brothers, 1977), p. 8, 89, 112</ref>. ==Phoenicians: first democratsEarly for of democracy?==Phoenicia was a unique area in the Mediterranean. As As was the case with other urban and mercantile societies it , Phoenicia developed sophisticated political systems. The governments of these These city-states was initially organized these governments around kings, the priesthood , and a council of elders. These increasingly became oligarchic in nature over time and often the cities entered Leagues or federations. The Phoenicians were among the first to develop political institutions other than that of monarchy in the Levantmonarchy. There are those who Some claim that they introduced a limited form of democracycenturies before the Greeks.  There is evidence that during religious festivities that citizens of cities such as Sidon would vote for candidates for the assemblyduring religious festivities. These People transmitted these democratic practices were transmitted to outposts , such as Carthage. We can have a better understanding of the nature of Punic institutions by studying the constitution of Carthage. It was an oligarchical republic where citizens could elect two presidents called Suffetes. It even had a popular assembly and trade unions.  The Phoenician’s political system is deemed to have been very influential was instrumental in the development of governments in the Classical period. There are those who claim that The governments of cities such as Sidon and Tyre influenced the Greek city-states such as Athens were influenced by . It is also possible that they also introduced democratic institutions and practices to the governments of cities such as Sidon and TyreEtruscans, but who later transmitted them to the majority of academics believe that this was not the caseRomans. It appears that the Phoenicians<ref>Stockwell, via the Ancient Greeks, were influential in the development of democracy <ref>Stockwell, Stephen. "Stephen. "Before Athens: Early popular government in Phoenicia and Greek city-states." In The Secret History of Democracy, pp. 35-48. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2011</ref>. ==The creation of a What role did the Phoenicians play in the Mediterranean economy?==The Phoenicians were renowned traders and sailors. They traded all over the Mediterranean and even in the Black Sea. They traded luxury goods and high-value products such as the famous purple dye, far and wide. Traders from Sidon and other cities voyaged great distances to obtain metals such as bronze and tin. These were sourced in the mysterious land of Taresh, which is believed to have been located in modern Spain.  The Phoenicians and the colonies helped to create a trade network that traversed the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. This network helped the region to recover from the collapse of civilizations associated with the Sea Peoples.  However, the Phoenicians were not just traders, ; they were also notorious pirates and slavers. Nonetheless, city-states such as Tyre made a crucial contribution to the development of international trade. What is more, the commercial networks of the Phoenicians allowed for the exchange and transmission of ideas.  Historians believe that they influenced other cultures, especially with regard to about religion. The Greek goddess Aphrodite was based on the cult of Astarte, which was widely practiced in Phoenicia .<ref>Sherratt, Susan, and Andrew Sherratt. "The growth of the Mediterranean economy in the early first millennium BC." World Archaeology 24, no. 3 (1993): 361-378</ref>.  ==What role did Phoenicia play in the development of Carthage?==By the 5th century BC, the [[File:Phoen 1.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Punic ruins]]By the 5th century BC, the small trading outpost had of Carthage developed into a powerful great city. It was became the leading maritime and commercial power in the Western Mediterranean. It was under the control of Tyre until it was conquered by the Persiansconquered Phoenicia. The Carthaginians , freed from the influence of Phoenicia , conquered the other Punic outposts and eventually dominated much of the North Africa coast and many of the Mediterranean islands .<ref>Astin, A. E., M. W. Frederiksen, R. M. Ogilvie, and F. W. Walbank, eds. The Cambridge ancient history. Cambridge University Press, 1984), p. 117</ref>.  Carthage retained its Phoenician culture and institutions and influenced many societies in the region, down the centuries. They were the rivals of the Greeks in Sicily and elsewhere , and later they proved to be the greatest enemy of Rome. The Carthaginians fought three wars with Rome, known as the Punic Wars , and they were ultimately to determine the fate of the Mediterranean World for centuries.  If they had prevailed over Rome, the history of the Western World could have been much different. Despite their defeat and the city's eventual destruction of the city in 154 BC, it Carthage left an enduring legacy. They introduced new agricultural methods and naval technologies into the region, which were adopted by Rome.  Moreover, they the Carthaginians developed a rich civilization and economy on the North African littoral .<ref> Astin, p. 201</ref>. This area After the Romans occupied Carthage after the Third Punic War was occupied by the Romans and , it became a crucial for their part of the Roman economy. Moreover, many Punic communities continued to prosper, such as that at Utica. Many remained proud of their Phoenician ancestry, such as one of the greatest of all Christian thinkers, St Augustine. Indeed, it was only with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, that Punic culture and language, vanished, from the region Punic culture and language vanished from the region.<ref>Astin, p. 213</ref>. The Phoenicians through their colony at Carthage alter altered the course of history in North Africa. [[File: Phoen 1.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Punic ruins]]

Phoenicia is a civilization that is little appreciated today, unlike those far less famous than the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. This In history, Phoenicia's place was erased because other powers conquered it and its colonies were subjugated by other powers , and its libraries and records were nearly all destroyedafter Persia conquered the kingdom. This means that their Therefore, Phoenicia's contributions to ancient civilization and history has have often not been recognized.  Among their many achievements , the Phoenicians pioneered new commercial networks and introduced urban living into many Mediterranean areas of the Mediterranean for the first time. The Phoenicians introduced the phonetic alphabet to many societies’ and this was to revolutionize societies. This innovation revolutionized many cultures in the Mediterranean and this changed the course of the history of the Worldworld history. The unique societies Phoenicia was also one of Phoenicia meant that they were among the first civilizations to develop democratic institutions and these were possibly emulated by the . The Ancient Greeksemulated these. Their colonization of the Mediterranean was important. The Phoenician trading post of Carthage eventually became an Empire that was pivotal in the history of the Classical World.  ====Further Reading====* Clifford, R. J. (1990). Phoenician religion. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 279(1), 55-64.* Millar, F. (1983). The Phoenician cities: a case-study of Hellenisation. The Cambridge Classical Journal, 29, 55-71.*Markoe, G. E. (1990). The emergence of Phoenician art. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental researchResearch, 279(1), 13-26.*Oded, B. (1974). The Phoenician cities and the Assyrian Empire in the time of Tiglath-pileser III. Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins (1953-), (H. 1), 38-49. ====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:History of the Levant]] [[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Ancient Greek History]]