About 3,000 years ago.
Alphabetic.
Phoenician is an alphabet which forms syllables and words. Cuneiform is syllabic.
For communication and records.
Alphabetic writing.
The writing messages
In the Levant.
Phoenician writing was an alphabetic script, with one symbol representing one sound, while cuneiform was a complex script with many signs representing syllables, words, or concepts. Phoenician writing was more flexible and easier to learn compared to cuneiform.
They produced a variant on the Phoenician alphabet, which had pioneered cursive writing.
The Phoenician trading ship spread their writing system around the Mediterranean Sea.
Trade and alphabetic writing.
They invented alphabetic writing for communication and recording.
Eighth Century BCE.