The Phoenicians - Traders Phoenicia - located along western coast of the Fertile crescent NOT a great military power, often ruled by foreign governments Wealthy trading society Traded cedar, purple dye, silverwork, ivory carvings, slaves, glass items.

The Phoenicians - Sailors Because overland trade routes were blocked by mountains and hostile neighbors, they used the sea as a way to trade. They became expert sailors and sailed all around the Mediterranean, founding colonies as they went.

The Phoenician Alphabet Most important contribution - development of one of the first alphabets, a set of letters that can be combined to form words. Developed to make writing and recording trading activities much easier. Our own alphabet has roots in the Phoenicians’.