THE 7 CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PHOENICIANS - HISTORY - 2025

The contributions of the Phoenicians to humanity are very varied and were of great importance for the development and evolution of the civilizations of that time. Among them, the alphabet, writing and commerce stand out.

The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization made up of independent cities and states that stretched along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between 1,500 BC and 300 BC.

It included the coastline that today corresponds to Lebanon, northern Israel, Gaza, Syria and southwestern Turkey. Its extensive territory ranged from the mouth of the Orontes River in the north, to the Haifa Bay in the south.

Although the Phoenicians as a civilization did not survive, many of their achievements remained through time. Greece, Rome, and many other civilizations absorbed key elements of the Phoenicians in a process known as cultural diffusion, through which many cultural traits were diffused from one region to another.

Main contributions of the Phoenicians to humanity

This is a summary list of seven of the most important contributions of the Phoenicians to humanity:

1- Alphabet and writing

Many are the historians who defend that the Phoenicians invented the alphabet, while others debate this idea. Regardless of this, their contribution to the development and propagation of the same was extremely critical, and this being considered the most important contribution of the Phoenicians.

The Phoenician alphabet originally consisted of a simple writing system consisting of 24 phonemic signs. When the Phoenicians began to use the alphabet as an easy and simple way to keep track of their businesses, it was exposed wherever they visited.

Taking into account that money and wealth were factors involved in the matter, many were motivated to learn this system.

This method turned out to be much better than previous methods, so it began to be used by many people and in many different languages. He had been given so much momentum that he couldn't stop himself.

The Greeks and many other cultures adopted the Phoenician alphabet and added their own enhancements, such as vowels. From this derived the writing and all that it entails.

2- Industry, commerce and the use of currency

During that time trade was not common. However, the Phoenicians manufactured and traded an immense amount of products, such as wood, stones, metals, fabrics, glass, jewelry, ceramics and more.

They were great promoters of the industry, such as the textile industry, where they stood out with their fabrics dyed purple. They stood out with the production of metals, ceramics and crafts, as well as glass products.

Due to the great availability of materials, such as wood, they were pioneers in carpentry designs and products, producing everything from furniture to ships and boats that would serve as an example and inspiration for the development of the maritime field.

Their trade was luxurious, which gave them a presence throughout the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. This allowed the development of the economy of various civilizations.

Initially, they traded through barter. Once the currency was invented, they adapted this revolutionary medium of commerce, and, since they managed to reach a large number of ports and regions, it was these who managed to expand its use.

3- Architecture and engineering

The Phoenicians stood out for their architectural and engineering knowledge and innovations. They managed to build bridges, dikes, ports and buildings up to six stories high, which was a milestone for the time and served as inspiration for future construction.

Walled cities, temples, and carriages are also part of his best-known works. The great commercial success is due, in part, to the ability and ability to build innovative large vessels.

4- Navigation

Thanks to their talents in architecture, and the immense amount of material they had available, such as wood, due to their geographical location, they stood out in the area of ​​shipbuilding.

They made technical improvements that made long-haul sailing possible, becoming masters of navigation, one of the reasons why commerce prospered.

They became masters of the seas, which is why they did not have a growing interest in occupying or gaining new lands.

5- Policy

Something that characterized the Phoenicians were their assemblies and councils, these being the pillars of their political system. Likewise, they practiced thalassocracy, which is a government orientation focused on the control of the seas.

This political system based on assemblies where extensive deliberations took place, together with debates, which concluded in agreements on crucial issues, was the precursor of democracy as we know it today.

6- Science and literature

The Phoenicians wrote large amounts of literary material that contributed to the development of science and general culture of the time.

Dictionaries, foreign language manuals, vocabularies, administrative, legal and commercial literature, as well as navigation charts, are just a few examples.

They even wrote scientific texts based on mathematics, astronomy, physics, medicine and other branches. Likewise, religious and philosophical themes were also the focus of his literary works.

7- Agriculture, livestock and fishing

The Phoenicians settled in many places, and in each one of them they left a mark on their daily activities.

For example, they spread the practice of growing grapes, wheat, and barley. Also the production of different wines, beer and dairy products. Also, they were giving samples of their usual production of bread and meat and fish salt.

Despite all the very varied and important contributions of the Phoenicians to humanity, these, as a civilization, are not as well known as other civilizations of antiquity.

This is because they did not form an extensive or extremely rich empire, such as the empire of the Assyrians, Akkadians, Romans or the empire of the Persians.

For this reason, a large part of its cultural wealth was lost over time. Even so, all his contributions were key points in the development of human civilization as we know it today.

References

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