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Phoenicia
From 1200 BC to 539 BC, the ancient Semitic civilization of Phoenicia was situated on the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent in what is now Lebanon and Tartus Governorate, Syria. They are known for almost all modern day alphabets being derived from their alphabet.
714 Questions
Who controlled the Phoenician trade - merchant or kings?
Each city-state had its own trade. The merchants carried it out. The kings provided the base of the originating city.
Their main influence was by trade. However they did export cultural influences such as the Phoenician alphabet which was the basis of effectife writing which was passed on through Greek and Roman hands to form the basis of our English alphabet and written communications today.
How do you pronouce the word Phoenicia?
Phoenicia is pronounced as follows:
PH as an F
OE as the A in ABOVE
N
I as the I in MACHINE
C as an SH
I as the I in MACHINE
A as the A in FATHER
What is the modern day equivalent of 1st century Phoenicia?
The Phoenicians of Carthage were sold into slavery by the Romans in 146 BCE. Of the Phoenician city-states of the Eastern Mediterranean absorbed into the Hellenistic Egyptian and Seleucid kingdoms in the late 4th Century BCE, Tyre and Sidon regained independence in the late 2nd Century BCE, however they were absorbed into the Roman Empire province of Syria in 65 BCE by Pompey. So today's equivalent would be something like the threat looming over Ukraine and the Baltic States.
How did the Phoenicians betray the Greeks at the Thermopylae pass?
The Phoenicians were not anywhere near the Thermopylae Pass, so they could not betray the Greek force there.
What impact did the Carthage colony have on the Phoenicians?
The Carthaginians were Phoenicians, and this initially gave them a base in the Western Mediterranean Sea. When Carthage increased its coverage over the whole area, it provided a source of goods flowing west and a market outlet going west.
Why didn't Phoenicians take over Assyria or Babylon?
Answer 1
The Phoenician city-states were important centers of trade and occupied strategically important sites along the Mediterranean coast. This made them appealing targets for every major power in the region. Unfortunately for them, the Phoenician cities rarely had much of a chance to stand up the invading forces.
Answer 2
The Phoenicians did not have an army large enough to conquer either the Assyrians nor the Babylonians. Additionally, as a maritime empire, the Phoenicians would derive no benefit from acquiring land-locked provinces, such as those controlled by Assyria or Babylon.
Why were the Phoenicians and Greeks the first in Spain?
The first in Spain were the indigenous peoples with whom the Phoenicians traded.
The Phoenician colonies never united because of what?
Their purpose was to be trading ports around the Mediterranean.
What is true about Phoenician trade and business?
It sustained a growing population too big for their territory, and advanced prosperity of its people.
Did the Phoenicians consider themselves to be one people?
Yes, the Phoenicians considered themselves to be one people. They were a distinct part of the Semitic peoples, but they lived in independent city-states, just as the Greeks did.
How did the beliefs of the Hebrews differ from the Phoenicians?
Belief in One God. The Phoenicians were idolaters.
What city-states did the Phoenician empire include?
Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, Carthage. However it was not an empire, it was an ethnic group of independent city-states.
How did the Phoenician trading stations develop into colonies?
Carthage became rich and independent, and established its own trading stations. Under Carthage's Barca family, it broke the normal pattern of simply having a trading station by taking over territory and establishing territorial claims, which effectively became colonies.
