Up to the 5th Century BCE they were. Then competition from the Greeks and then the Romans took over.
Phoenicians
The Phoenicians.
yes
How do you think the ancient world would have been different if the Phoenicians had not been such good sailors and traders? What if they had not started colonies around the Mediterranean? How do you think other civilizations have developed differently without their influence?
The Phoenicians become the greatest traders and the best sailors and navigators of the pre-classical world. They only shipped certain goods and became the only traders in those goods that gave them a monopoly in some areas.
The Polynesians and Phoenicians .
Phoenician
Isn't it their alphabet?
They traded communicated with other cultures.
They invented a system of alphabetic writing. They were also traders who operated around the Mediterranean sea and so spread the writing and the ideas it contained. However the Mediterranean Sea is hardly the world, and so most of 'the world' had never heard of or from the Phoenicians.
The Phoenicians
The Phoenicians played a significant role in the ancient world as skilled traders and seafarers. They established colonies and trading posts throughout the Mediterranean, spreading their culture and facilitating trade between different civilizations. The Phoenicians were also known for their advanced shipbuilding techniques and navigation skills, which allowed them to navigate the seas and establish trade routes that connected different regions. In addition, they were renowned for their production of valuable commodities such as purple dye, glassware, and timber.