Phoenician Trade RoutesPhoenician Trade Routes

Traders of the MediterraneanTraders of the Mediterranean

Background on the Phoenicians Background on the Phoenicians

Located on the eastern coast of the Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, (Lebanon)Mediterranean Sea, (Lebanon)

Phoenicia was not a unified state Phoenicia was not a unified state Self-rule by ~1200 BCESelf-rule by ~1200 BCE Most notable traders and sailors of Most notable traders and sailors of

the ancient worldthe ancient world

Where did they go?Where did they go?

Traveled throughout the Traveled throughout the Mediterranean and even into the Mediterranean and even into the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean• Other nations competed to employ Other nations competed to employ

Phoenicians Phoenicians • City-kingdoms founded many colonies City-kingdoms founded many colonies

because of tradebecause of trade

No longer independentNo longer independent

Conquered by Persia in ~ 540 BCEConquered by Persia in ~ 540 BCE Alexander the Great invaded Asia Alexander the Great invaded Asia

and defeated Persia in 333 BCand defeated Persia in 333 BC Phoenicians gradually lost their Phoenicians gradually lost their

separate identity- absorbed into the separate identity- absorbed into the Greco-Macedonian empireGreco-Macedonian empire

Exports and ImportsExports and Imports

ExportsExports• Cedar and Pine Cedar and Pine

woodwood• Fine linenFine linen• Cloths dyed with Cloths dyed with

the famous Tyrian the famous Tyrian purplepurple

• EmbroideriesEmbroideries• Metalwork and Metalwork and

glassglass• Wine, salt and dried Wine, salt and dried

fishfish

ImportsImports• Raw materialsRaw materials

PapyrusPapyrus Ivory, EbonyIvory, Ebony SilkSilk AmberAmber Ostrich eggsOstrich eggs Spices, IncenseSpices, Incense HorsesHorses Gold, Silver, Copper, Gold, Silver, Copper,

Iron, Tin, Jewels, and Iron, Tin, Jewels, and Precious StonesPrecious Stones

Conducted Transit TradeConducted Transit Trade

Arabian caravan trade passed Arabian caravan trade passed through Phoenician handsthrough Phoenician hands

Regular trade routes from Tigris/ Regular trade routes from Tigris/ Euphrates Euphrates

In Egypt, Phoenician merchants In Egypt, Phoenician merchants gained a footholdgained a foothold• Maintained a profitable tradeMaintained a profitable trade

Trial and Error Trial and Error

First attempts were crudeFirst attempts were crude Voyages only consisted of island Voyages only consisted of island

hoppinghopping BoatsBoats

• Began with canoes (trunks of trees)Began with canoes (trunks of trees)• Boats were then constructedBoats were then constructed

Phoenician Ships

Navigation and SeafaringNavigation and Seafaring

Established commercial supremacy Established commercial supremacy Phoenicians are credited with Phoenicians are credited with

discovery and use of Polaris discovery and use of Polaris Ventured where others would notVentured where others would not Carefully guarded secrets of their Carefully guarded secrets of their

trade routes and discoveries and trade routes and discoveries and knowledge of winds and currentsknowledge of winds and currents

Two types of VesselsTwo types of Vessels

Merchant ShipsMerchant Ships• Broad, round, like a Broad, round, like a

“tub”“tub”• Impelled by oars Impelled by oars

and sails (more and sails (more dependent on sails)dependent on sails)

• Square sailSquare sail• Small boats Small boats

attachedattached

War- vesselsWar- vessels• Long open rowboatsLong open rowboats

All of them, upon a All of them, upon a level, the number of level, the number of rowers on either side rowers on either side being generally 15-being generally 15-2525

• Each galley armed Each galley armed with sharp metal with sharp metal spike (chief offense)spike (chief offense)

Phoenician Merchant Galley

The Phoenicians were the most able shipbuilders and sailors of the ancient Mediterranean world. Merchant ships, such as the one pictured here, enabled them to trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

Phoenician war-galleys

Contributions of TradeContributions of Trade

The most important- alphabet.The most important- alphabet. Purple dye, called Tyrian purple, and Purple dye, called Tyrian purple, and

the invention of glassthe invention of glass Their industries- the manufacture of Their industries- the manufacture of

textiles and dyes, metalworking, and textiles and dyes, metalworking, and glassmakingglassmaking

•Phoenicians used Phoenicians used cuneiform cuneiform (Mesopotamian (Mesopotamian writing), they also writing), they also produced a script of produced a script of their own. their own.