Who were the Phoenicians, and what were they chiefly known for?

The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that emerged in the region of modern-day Lebanon and parts of Syria and Israel. They are chiefly recognized for their exceptional maritime trade and their development of one of the earliest alphabets, which greatly influenced later writing systems, including Greek and Latin.

Their prowess in maritime trade allowed them to establish a vast network of trade routes across the Mediterranean, connecting various cultures and facilitating the exchange of goods such as purple dye, glass, and textiles. This extensive trade system contributed significantly to the economic and cultural development of the regions they engaged with.

In addition to trade, the Phoenicians' development of an alphabet simplified written communication and laid the groundwork for alphabetic systems used in numerous languages today. The significance of their contributions to navigation and trade, along with their innovative approach to writing, marks the Phoenicians as a pivotal civilization in the history of world civilizations.