Phoenicia was located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians had settled in a land that had few, but important resources. They looked to the sea to increase their wealth and became the world’s first trading empire. They created a 22 symbol alphabet in order to simplify writing because of their success in trade.
- Sea trade
- Development of alphabet
- Purple dye
7.17 Locate Greece, Asia Minor, Crete, Phoenicia, the Aegean, and the Red Sea on an ancient map. Locate Greece, Crete, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria on a modern map. (G)
7.18 Identify the Phoenicians as the successors to the Minoans in dominating maritime trade in the Mediterranean from c. 1000-300 BCE. Describe how the Phoenician writing system was the first alphabet (with 22 symbols for consonants) and the precursor of the first complete alphabet created by the Greeks (with symbols representing both consonants and vowels). (H,E)
Pacing Guide: - 10/27-10/30 (4 days)
Key Questions:
Why was the sea so important to the Phoenicians?
How did the Phoenicians revolutionize writing?
How did the Phoenicians help spread civilization throughout the Mediterranean area?
Why was Phoenician purple dye such a valuable resource? / Skills and Outcomes: When students have finished studying this topic, they will know and be able to:
- Explain the Phoenicians’ contributions to ancient societies
- Analyze how sea trade and the development of the alphabet contributed to the growth of the Phoenician empire.
- Locate the Phoenician empire on a historical map
- Pretend that you are a Phoenician sailor, writing a letter home to a family member or friend. Answer the following questions in your letter: What kinds of things would you describe to a friend? (the ship’s cargo, conditions on board, geography of the region) Explain how sailors discouraged competitors from trading (stories of sea monsters and sea sickness).