Trading Peoples Fertile Crescent 3000 BC BC Aramaeans Phoenicians Lydians Aramaeans Phoenicians Lydians

The Aramaeans One of the most active peoples in early Middle Eastern trade, settled in central Syria about 1200 BC Gained control of overland trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Aramean merchants were most responsible for spreading their language and culture. Capital city of Damascus One of the most active peoples in early Middle Eastern trade, settled in central Syria about 1200 BC Gained control of overland trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Aramean merchants were most responsible for spreading their language and culture. Capital city of Damascus The Aramean culture attained its height in the ninth and eighth centuries BC. By about 500 BC, Aramaic had become the universal language of commerce, culture, and government throughout the entire Fertile Crescent. Bible written in Aramaic and was the language of Jesus and his people.

Present-Day Syria The village of Ma'alula, in the Ante-Lebanon mountains, is one of only a handful of places in the world where Aramaic, the language Christ spoke, is still known and understood.

The Phoenicians One of the Semitic groups that migrated from the Arabian Peninsula about 3000 BC, settled in the northern part of Canaan. Traded by sailing the seas. By 1200 BC built cities along their coast which grew to independent city-states. One of the Semitic groups that migrated from the Arabian Peninsula about 3000 BC, settled in the northern part of Canaan. Traded by sailing the seas. By 1200 BC built cities along their coast which grew to independent city-states. Took charge of Mediterranean shipping and trade To protect/supply ships, set up a network of temporary trading posts and colonies along the coasts of the Mediterranean. Phoenician merchants kept track of complex business deals using an improved alphabet. Alphabet became the foundation of several other alphabets, including Greek -did not require years of study to master, so no longer needed specially trained scribes.

Phoenician Outposts

Phoenician Colonies Carthage in present-day Tunisia Island of Sardinia

Phoenician Alphabet

The Lydians Located in Asia Minor, they were well situated to prosper in regional trade Capital city of Sardes Located in Asia Minor, they were well situated to prosper in regional trade Capital city of Sardes By late 600’s BC had developed a wealthy and independent kingdom famous for its rich gold deposits. The Lydians began to set prices and developed a money system as a medium of exchange.

Coins Most early cultures traded precious metals. In 2500 BC the Egyptians produced metal rings for use as money. By 700 BC, the Lydians became the first in the Western world to make coins. The Lydians used coins to expand their vast trading empire. The Greeks and Romans continued the coining tradition and passed it on to later Western civilizations. Coins were appealing since they were durable, easy to carry and contained valuable metals.

Lydia and Sardes

Phoenicians