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'The Phoenician civilization'

The Phoenician civilization extended to all parts of the earth because it is the first free nation in history. This space that nurtures the passion for freedom and sharpens the determination to challenge and overcome what the sea hides from the scourge of this, the Phoenician civilization was a civilization of control over the natural environment.

History of the Phoenicians The Canaanites occupied the Levant region between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, so they controlled most of the islands of the Mediterranean until their colonies extended from Carthage in North Africa to Corsica and southern Spain.

The Greeks called them the name "xinoeh" by the Phoenicians, which means purple, due to their discovery of the purple pigment. The Phoenician colonies included some cities located on the Syrian coast extending from the far north of Syria to southern Palestine, such as Tyre, Sidon (Sidon), Beirut, Byblos, Ugarit, Iskenderun, Acre ... and they also included the city of Carthage.

Sidon: Sidon The Phoenicians took it as their capital. They set off from it to establish commercial stations in many countries. History scholars have proven that the Phoenicians reached North and South America, as they preceded Christopher Columbus in discovering the North American continent by many centuries. Sidon was known for its trade that dominated the region during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Jbeil (Byblos) Byblos was famous for its religious and commercial standing, as it was known as the birthplace of the Roman alphabet, taken from the Phoenician script. Among the Phoenician monuments found in Byblos: the remains of the gates and fortified walls of the city, and several structures and tombs of the kings of Byblos that are located underground.

Tyre Tyre: Under the leadership of Queen Elissar, who is the daughter of King Metinos, the Phoenicians set out to found the city of Carthage in North Africa. Tyre made progress in the field of trade, which made it surpass Sidon. The Mediterranean was known for a while as the Sea of Tyre. As for the ruins in Tyre, which are few, including: the water barrier and the barrier of waves, which is isolated from the coast of the city, and the tomb of Ahiram I (the king who governed Tyre), which is a few kilometers from the city

Baalbek Baalbek: It was established by the Phoenicians at the beginning of the year BC. They built the first temple there, which was dedicated to the sun god, Baal. And from here the city got its name. But the structure cannot be seen now due to the Roman columns which were later built in Baalbek. Baalbek, not like other cities, was isolated from trade

Carthage Carthage: Founded by Queen Elissar. Carthage was known as the capital of glory and the queen of the seas because of the high position it occupied, of sophistication, urbanization and prosperity. This city characterized by vitality and ingenuity and creativity. It was able to control Moroccan colonies as it played a civilizational role in North Africa, the Mediterranean islands, and Britain.

Religious beliefs of the Phoenicians. The sublime Phoenician religion was based on the belief in the phenomenon of fertility and production. The Phoenicians believed in some of the powers of nature that surrounded them, and they worshiped many, many gods. Each city was the god worshiped. The Phoenicians named some of their deities after the cities in which they resided. Among the gods that the Phoenicians worshiped and sanctified are: the god of latent powers (god El), the goddess of fertility (Ishtar), the god of rain (the god Baal), the god (Eshmun), the god (Isis). In Carthage, they worshiped the goddesses of fertility and production (Tanit), the god (Baal Amun), in addition to the deities that were worshiped in the Levant. And worship has continued until the Roman era. The Phoenicians believed in the second life, so they built their tombs in which they placed the dead, in addition to his own tools, which they believed would be required when he rose in the second life. These tools were well-known by their simplicity and included some household items that were used by the Phoenicians, such as pottery vessels and oil lamps. And next to the tombs, the Phoenicians built temples that were influenced by the Greek character and were interested in the devoted priests who knew the inheritance of the priesthood in their family.

System of government in Phoenicia Phoenicia consisted of several kingdoms, and each city-kingdom included, which was considered its capital. The system of government in Phoenicia was known as the hereditary monarchy, as the king represented the gods and had the ultimate authority in managing the affairs of the kingdom he ruled. As for city elders, clerics and judges, they played the king's assistants in running the kingdom. As for the army, it has ensured the protection of the kingdom and the security of commercial convoys

Achievements of the Phoenicians

Invention of the alphabet

The invention of the alphabet is one of the greatest things the Phoenician civilization has brought to mankind. This writing was invented in 1100 BC and consisted of 22 letters, each of which represents a specific sound. It was also called the Byblos alphabet. The Phoenicians used the Sumerian and ancient Egyptian writing and then developed it over time. At first, these letters were written on clay or mud tablets, and later, on Egyptian papyrus. The Phoenicians wrote these letters from right to left (like Arabic) and spread them all over the world, east and west. Contributed to the publication of Cadmus the Tyrian. The invention of the alphabet, Phoenicia, gained an important place in the history of civilization.

Discovery of purple pigment

The Phoenicians were the first to discover the purple color They extracted it from the shells of saliva, a type of oyster found near the Phoenician shores. The Phoenicians introduced purple dye to their fabrics, and they were famous for making purple-colored fabrics.

Shipbuilding industry

The Phoenician ships were sailboats that consisted of a single mast, a square sail, and hand paddles. The Phoenicians relied on it in their trade, travel, and exchange of their industries with other neighboring and distant countries.

Phoenician's economic life

Economic life flourished in Phoenicia due to the development of industry, commerce and crafts. The work of the Phoenicians focused on the sea, so they worked in fishing, sponge, navigation and shipbuilding. They also excelled in many industries, including ivory, glass, purple fabrics, sharp-bottomed vases, and pottery. The knowledge of the Phoenicians to make iron (in the second millennium BC) contributed to making ceramics. The Phoenicians imitated the Egyptian, Cretan, and Mycenaean industry, which enabled them to attain a great position in industry and art. Some of these industries (pottery and glass) are now preserved in the Tripoli Museum.

As for trade in Phoenicia, it reached its highest levels and the items in which they traded varied, including purple pigment and fabrics, glass, metals, pottery, wine and cedar, wood..etc all these things they exchanged with Greece, Italy, Spain And the Mediterranean islands. They also risked sailing further until they reached Cape Verde, in Britain. Phoenicia became one of the richest and most important provinces in the Persian Empire, and Alexander the Great imprisoned Phoenicia in 332 BC.

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