Ancient Phoenicia

 In ancient times, Phoenicia was called the Northern part of the territory located on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea. Surrended by powerful neighbors such as Ancient Egypt, Babylon and Assyria, these lands were the subject of constant conquest, which affected their economic, trade, military and political development.

 This country emerged in the 30th century BC, the state centers were the cities of Ugarit and Byblos. The name "Phoenicians", which means "purple people" appeared in the I century BC, when the greeks began to call them like this. To the egyptians the people of the Northeast coast of the Meditarranean were known as "fenehu", means "shipbuilders".

 For centuries the Phoenician terrytories were ruled by the Pharaon of Egypt. By this rule these lands had to pay an annual tax, also to escort and guard the acient Egyptian caravans. Pharaoh's rule lasted until 1400 age BC, after that these lands of Syria and Pheonicia periodically came under the control of other neighboring countries. 

 During the period 1100 BC Phoenicia became an independet state, but later in 600 BC the country is conquered by the powerful Assirian Empire.

 The location of Phoenicia covered the main trade routes from Asia Minor to Egypt and Red Sea till the Persian Pacific and the main road to Babylon and India. Firstly the trade activity was by overland moving by caravans which crossed the shores between the Red Sea, north to the Asian Minor. Gradually with the grow of martime trade, Phoenicia became a leading trade naval. These people cruised all across the Mediterranean, even establishing several trading cities, including the great Carthage. This city, which even after the decline of Phoenicia, continued its existence until its final conquest by the Roman army in 146 BC.

 In their main goal of trading in the Mediterranean, the Phoenicians created a kind of alphabet based on Egyptian hieroglyphs and Sumerian cuneiform. After which the Greeks adapted it and created their own alphabet.