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The Phoenicians: A Captivating Guide to the History of Phoenicia and the Impact Made by One of the Greatest Trading Civilizations of the Ancient World
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The Phoenicians remain one of the most enigmatic ancient civilizations, with historians and scholars prone to speculation and educated guesses. Although many Greek, Roman, and Egyptian writers reference the Phoenicians in trade records, military battles, and artistic transactions, few records were left by the original Phoenicians themselves, leaving modern scholars to fill in the blanks through educated guesses and material culture.
The ancient perception about this civilization was mixed. For every writer like Pomponius Mela who lavished praise upon the Phoenicians, there was another who derided the people as nothing more than cheats and hucksters who kept other states’ trade stymied through stranglehold networks and ridiculous deals. Mela described them as “The Phoenicians were a clever race, who prospered in war and peace. They excelled in writing and literature, and in other arts, in seamanship, and in ruling an empire.”
To dissect Mela’s quote, the Phoenicians were great writers, yet they left almost no documents. They may have been excellent sailors and naval commanders, yet they built no territorial empire. They were stellar artists, yet their work contains few original elements. They may have been clever builders, yet their monuments crumbled. And the Phoenicians were a single civilization, yet they were split into city-states.
How could a civilization exist with so many contradictions, and how can modern historians utilize evidence that no longer seems to exist to uncover the truth?
Who were the enigmatic Phoenicians, why did their civilization crumble, and why should a modern audience care?
Open this book to find out.
In The A Captivating Guide to the History of Phoenicia and the Impact Made by One of the Greatest Trading Civilizations of the Ancient World , you will discover topics such
So if you want to learn more about the Phoenicians, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!
The Phoenicians remain one of the most enigmatic ancient civilizations, with historians and scholars prone to speculation and educated guesses. Although many Greek, Roman, and Egyptian writers reference the Phoenicians in trade records, military battles, and artistic transactions, few records were left by the original Phoenicians themselves, leaving modern scholars to fill in the blanks through educated guesses and material culture.
The ancient perception about this civilization was mixed. For every writer like Pomponius Mela who lavished praise upon the Phoenicians, there was another who derided the people as nothing more than cheats and hucksters who kept other states’ trade stymied through stranglehold networks and ridiculous deals. Mela described them as “The Phoenicians were a clever race, who prospered in war and peace. They excelled in writing and literature, and in other arts, in seamanship, and in ruling an empire.”
To dissect Mela’s quote, the Phoenicians were great writers, yet they left almost no documents. They may have been excellent sailors and naval commanders, yet they built no territorial empire. They were stellar artists, yet their work contains few original elements. They may have been clever builders, yet their monuments crumbled. And the Phoenicians were a single civilization, yet they were split into city-states.
How could a civilization exist with so many contradictions, and how can modern historians utilize evidence that no longer seems to exist to uncover the truth?
Who were the enigmatic Phoenicians, why did their civilization crumble, and why should a modern audience care?
Open this book to find out.
In The A Captivating Guide to the History of Phoenicia and the Impact Made by One of the Greatest Trading Civilizations of the Ancient World , you will discover topics such
So if you want to learn more about the Phoenicians, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
120 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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June 4, 2026The Phoenicians lived in Lebanon and, like the Israelite tribes, descended from the Canaanites. However, Phoenician settlements are found not only in Lebanon. In total, there are around 80 separate city-states in Lebanon, but also in Algeria, Cyprus, Italy, Libya, Malta, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, and Morocco. They also controlled ports in Portugal and Greece, including Lisbon.
Although some commentators portray the Phoenicians as almost enlightened geniuses, they had a distinct legal system. If person A killed the slave of person B, the punishment could be that a slave of person A was killed instead. Furthermore, debts could be repaid by selling family members into slavery. Not exactly an enlightened people in that regard.
Another remarkable part of this book is that scientists have calculated that a Phoenician ship would sail about 6 miles per hour. This would mean that a one-way trip to Spain could take about 90 days. Since the travel season would be over by then, it could take nearly a whole year to return to Lebanon. While I’m willing to accept that this might be accurate, I would have appreciated a bit more explanation as to why the travel season in the Mediterranean was so short.
Other information covered in this book includes clothing, the history of occupations by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Macedonians, trade, the alphabet, religion, warfare, and art.
Despite covering all these topics, unfortunately, relatively little is still known about the Phoenicians. As the anonymous author points out: the Phoenicians existed for over 1000 years, while World War II lasted about 7 years (wasn’t it 6 years by the way?). Yet, we know much more about World War II than about the Phoenicians. I am therefore pleased that the book sticks to the facts and doesn’t engage in needless speculation as some historians tend to do.
Although the book doesn’t delve deeply, it is, in my view, a successful work, especially for the price I paid for it (less than 3 euros).
Although some commentators portray the Phoenicians as almost enlightened geniuses, they had a distinct legal system. If person A killed the slave of person B, the punishment could be that a slave of person A was killed instead. Furthermore, debts could be repaid by selling family members into slavery. Not exactly an enlightened people in that regard.
Another remarkable part of this book is that scientists have calculated that a Phoenician ship would sail about 6 miles per hour. This would mean that a one-way trip to Spain could take about 90 days. Since the travel season would be over by then, it could take nearly a whole year to return to Lebanon. While I’m willing to accept that this might be accurate, I would have appreciated a bit more explanation as to why the travel season in the Mediterranean was so short.
Other information covered in this book includes clothing, the history of occupations by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Macedonians, trade, the alphabet, religion, warfare, and art.
Despite covering all these topics, unfortunately, relatively little is still known about the Phoenicians. As the anonymous author points out: the Phoenicians existed for over 1000 years, while World War II lasted about 7 years (wasn’t it 6 years by the way?). Yet, we know much more about World War II than about the Phoenicians. I am therefore pleased that the book sticks to the facts and doesn’t engage in needless speculation as some historians tend to do.
Although the book doesn’t delve deeply, it is, in my view, a successful work, especially for the price I paid for it (less than 3 euros).
December 25, 2019
The Phoenicians are mentioned so often in other books (and in the Bible), so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read about them in this short work. Thanks for the timeline; it helped place the time of the Phoenicians. I found it very interesting that the Phoenicians emerged from the nomadic Canaanites. They were survivors of the Bronze Age Collapse.
It was surprising to see that the Phoenicians were an economic power, but not a military one. Thus, over time, they became vassals of more powerful empires (Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonian Greeks with Alexander the Great, etc.,). The Phoenicians founded the coastal city-states of Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre.
Phoenicians were polytheistic peoples -- they worshipped more than one god. They started out as an agricultural tribe but could not completely feed their people. After a while, they started trading for goods they needed and before long, they were a maritime economy. They started out trading with the Greeks (glass, wood and their rare, powdered Tyrian purple dye).
It was surprising to see that the Phoenicians were an economic power, but not a military one. Thus, over time, they became vassals of more powerful empires (Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonian Greeks with Alexander the Great, etc.,). The Phoenicians founded the coastal city-states of Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre.
Phoenicians were polytheistic peoples -- they worshipped more than one god. They started out as an agricultural tribe but could not completely feed their people. After a while, they started trading for goods they needed and before long, they were a maritime economy. They started out trading with the Greeks (glass, wood and their rare, powdered Tyrian purple dye).
April 12, 2022
Thorough & comprehensible history of the Phoenicians
I do love these Captivating History books. They are an excellent summary of what is known, with an excellent bibliography to go through if want to learn more.
I do love these Captivating History books. They are an excellent summary of what is known, with an excellent bibliography to go through if want to learn more.
December 20, 2019
An informative read.
This book told me more about the Phoenicians than my high school history class did! I really loved this book!
This book told me more about the Phoenicians than my high school history class did! I really loved this book!
April 24, 2020
Good at describing sea going people.
July 1, 2021
Bought this to read before reading a bigger book on carriage and Rome. Great prep read.
December 26, 2021
Poorly done
Most unprofessional, poorly handled and treated readers as grammar school children. Disappointed Kendal even offer this series. An insult to your readers
Most unprofessional, poorly handled and treated readers as grammar school children. Disappointed Kendal even offer this series. An insult to your readers
June 4, 2023
Great history
It was well written. I didn't realize how much trade and travel happened in this area at the time in history.
It was well written. I didn't realize how much trade and travel happened in this area at the time in history.
September 25, 2022
interesting
Kinda wish there was more on Carthage but I guess most history fans will always say that. I did enjoy the parts with the Hittites & the Assyrians and how the Phoenicians dealt with those powers.
Kinda wish there was more on Carthage but I guess most history fans will always say that. I did enjoy the parts with the Hittites & the Assyrians and how the Phoenicians dealt with those powers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews