They had a fleet of armed vessels to conduct the trade, and established trading depots in the areas of interest.
Profitable trade.
Trade.
As an easier means of exchange than trade goods.
To use in daily life, and for trade.
The Alphabet
The Phoenicians founded the colony of Carthage around 814 BCE to facilitate trade and expand their commercial network across the Mediterranean. Strategically located on the North African coast, Carthage became a vital hub for maritime trade, allowing the Phoenicians to export goods such as textiles, glass, and purple dye while also importing valuable resources. This colony played a crucial role in the Phoenicians' economic prosperity and cultural exchange with other civilizations.
They were the first to develop alphabet-based writing, much simpler than the writing systems developed so far.
The Phoenicians established the colony of Carthage, located in present-day Tunisia, to facilitate trade in the western Mediterranean. Founded around the 9th century BCE, Carthage became a major commercial hub, allowing the Phoenicians to expand their trading networks and influence across the region. This strategic location helped them control important trade routes and access valuable resources.
With an expanding population, they had to gain more resources - by conquest or trade. They chose trade.
Profit.
The Phoenicians invented an alphabetic writing system that greatly simplified record keeping. This system used a set of symbols to represent individual sounds, making it more efficient than the complex cuneiform or hieroglyphic systems. Their alphabet enabled easier transcription of trade transactions, laws, and communication, which facilitated commerce and administration across their trade networks. This innovation laid the groundwork for many modern alphabets used today.
The rugged mountain ranges and limited arable land in the region where the Phoenicians lived made overland travel difficult and impractical for trade. As a result, the Phoenicians turned to the sea, which provided easier and more efficient access to distant markets and resources. Their mastery of shipbuilding and navigation allowed them to establish extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean. This reliance on maritime trade greatly contributed to their economic prosperity and cultural exchange.