The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that thrived along the eastern Mediterranean, primarily in modern-day Lebanon, parts of Syria, and northern Israel. They were known for their significant contributions to trade and commerce, establishing a network of city-states including Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, and Beirut. The Phoenicians are credited with developing one of the earliest alphabets, which greatly influenced later writing systems. Their period of greatest prominence spanned from 1200 BC to the end of the Persian period (332 BC), during which they became notable merchants and colonizers throughout the Mediterranean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfmN8iSX83o
