Phoenician Phoenician TradersTraders

While the great civilizations of Babylon and Assyria were fighting over the eastern While the great civilizations of Babylon and Assyria were fighting over the eastern Fertile Crescent, around 1100 B.C.E., a great nation rose in the west, on the shores of the Fertile Crescent, around 1100 B.C.E., a great nation rose in the west, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.

Who were the Phoenicians?Who were the Phoenicians?

Taking over this little spot of land (now part of modern Israel and Lebanon), the Phoenicians established a trade empire that influenced generations of people that followed.

Phoenician BoatsPhoenician Boats

This ancient boat is being restored.This ancient boat is being restored.

Predict: From looking at the boats, how far Predict: From looking at the boats, how far away from the eastern coast of the away from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea do you think the Mediterranean Sea do you think the Phoenicians could trade?Phoenicians could trade?

The Phoenician World The Phoenician World

Phoenician traders had to row their boats and stay near shallow water. They Phoenician traders had to row their boats and stay near shallow water. They traveled close to the shoreline around Mediterranean area to trade goods traveled close to the shoreline around Mediterranean area to trade goods with people from other cultures.with people from other cultures.

They traded several goods including glass and lumber.

Their most important product was Tyrian purple, a dye made from

boiling the Murex snail.This purple dye was very difficult and expensive to produce. It was

very valuable to the rich.

Murex snail

Purple dye was made in the city of Purple dye was made in the city of Tyre, so is called Tyrian Purple. Tyre, so is called Tyrian Purple. Tyre is in modern day Lebanon.Tyre is in modern day Lebanon.

Phoenicia was also filled with cedar trees. Phoenicia was also filled with cedar trees. They cut them down and traded lumber to They cut them down and traded lumber to

other places around the Mediterranean Sea.other places around the Mediterranean Sea.

How did Phoenicians transport their How did Phoenicians transport their goods on these ships?goods on these ships?

They needed containers that could be made They needed containers that could be made both small and large, depending on the goods both small and large, depending on the goods they were carryingthey were carrying

They needed containers that they could make They needed containers that they could make out of a local productout of a local product

They needed containers that could be sealed to They needed containers that could be sealed to keep out bugs and moisturekeep out bugs and moisture

They used . . .They used . . .

Clay Amphorae Clay Amphorae (That’s the plural of one amphora)(That’s the plural of one amphora)

These amphorae were filled with purple dye made in the city These amphorae were filled with purple dye made in the city of Tyre and transported to the ancient city of Beersheva.of Tyre and transported to the ancient city of Beersheva.

The Phoenicians biggest The Phoenicians biggest legacy was their legacy was their

alphabet.alphabet.

Their alphabet is the “grandfather” Their alphabet is the “grandfather” of ancient Hebrew, Greek and Latin.of ancient Hebrew, Greek and Latin.

Challenge!Challenge!

Why do you think the Phoenicians needed a Why do you think the Phoenicians needed a written language? Hint: think about how they written language? Hint: think about how they made a living.made a living.