I. Phoenicia (1200 – 500 BCE) Settlers from ancient Syria, Lebanon, and Israel area. City-states: commerce Ex. Byblos, Berytus, Sidon, Tyre First Alphabetical Writing System: most important contribution Phoenicians wrote on poor papyrus: a lot of records disintegrated Expansion to Cyprus, African Coast, Spanish Coast, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta State and private help for expansion: trade and manufacturing (textiles: used purple dye) Reasons: Assyrian Expansion and shortage of agriculture (in Tyre) Trade opportunities Led to Greek Conflict: violent struggle for Sicily (3rd century BCE): Phoenicia upper- hand Carthage: founded by migrating Phoenicians (modern-day Tunis) 814 BCE Walled city Leaders = 2 judges (upperclass families decide) Senate (Merchant families decide) -Allowed successful people to gain political influence Foreign Policy: Protect sea trade NAVY Fast warships Citizen rowers and navigators Trade: Commercial monopoly (explorer Hanno): West African Coast Mediterranean – Sub-Sahara Africa – Spanish and French Coasts and Cornwall Empire of trade routes and ports (not territorial empire) Civilian government Military Religion: Capricious Gods – appeased by sacrifice (children) Greeks and Romans felt Cathagians treated subjects hard and gloomy Conquests of Assyrian Conquest: Destruction of Israel Deportation of Jewish people Pressure on Judah Pressure on Phoenicians: Led to Phoenician Colonization Occupied Egypt and Babylonia and western Iran Empire too big to control: expensive campaigns and arms race. Left empire vulnerable Subjects began to hate Assyrians Kingdom of Medes in Iran: Medes captured Assyrian homeland in Mesopotamia and eastern Anatolia Neo-Babylonian Dynasty took other territory from the Assyrians .