Who were the Phoenicians? A Quick Look at Phoenician History

Summary

This episode delves into the history of the Phoenicians, an ancient civilization known for their maritime prowess and trade. Originating from the eastern Mediterranean, they established city-states like Tyre and Sidon, which thrived on trade, especially in valuable timber and manufactured goods. Their far-reaching influence led to colonization across the Mediterranean, including the founding of Carthage. The script also covers their interactions with powerful empires like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia, and their eventual decline with the rise of Alexander the Great. The Phoenicians' legacy, including their contributions to the alphabet and Western culture, is a significant part of their story.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The term 'Phoenicia' refers to a region along the eastern Mediterranean coast, known for its city-states that shared a common language, culture, and political solidarity.
• 🟣 The name 'Phoenicia' is derived from the Greek word 'phoinix,' meaning crimson or purple, possibly due to a valuable purple dye produced from local shellfish.
• 🏺 Phoenicians are considered descendants of the Canaanite peoples, maintaining cultural, linguistic, and religious continuities with their Bronze Age ancestors.
• 🏛️ Phoenicia was a federation of city-states, not a unified kingdom, with each city ruled by its own king, including prominent cities like Byblos, Tyre, Sidon, and Beirut.
• 🛶 The Phoenicians were skilled seafaring traders, establishing colonies across the Mediterranean, such as Carthage, which became a significant power in its own right.
• 🌳 Phoenicia's economy was heavily reliant on trade, with timber being a major export, alongside manufactured goods made from ivory, wood, stone, metal, wool, and linen.
• 🔍 Historical records of the Phoenicians are primarily sourced from texts of neighboring civilizations, with few original Phoenician texts surviving, likely due to the perishable nature of papyrus.
• 📜 Assyrian kings such as Tiglath-Pileser I and Ashurnasirpal II documented their military campaigns and interactions with Phoenician city-states, including tributes and trade.
• 🏰 The city of Tyre was renowned for its impregnable island location, which played a role in its survival and strategic importance throughout various conflicts.
• ⚔️ Phoenician city-states often found themselves caught in the power struggles between major empires, such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians, leading to periods of vassalage and rebellion.
• 📚 The Phoenician legacy is marked by their cultural impact, including the development of the Phoenician alphabet, which laid the foundation for many modern scripts and contributed significantly to Western culture.

Q & A

What geographical area did Phoenicia encompass?

Phoenicia encompassed certain cities of the eastern Mediterranean coastal region, which shared a common language, culture, religion, and political solidarity.

What is the origin of the term 'Phoenicia' and 'Phoenicians'?

The terms 'Phoenicia' and 'Phoenicians' are derived from the Greek word 'phoinix,' meaning crimson or purple, possibly due to a purple dye extracted from the murex shellfish found along the shores of the northern Levantine coast.

How did the Phoenicians view themselves in relation to the Canaanite peoples?

The Phoenicians likely thought of themselves as descendants of the Canaanite peoples of the Bronze Age, sharing similarities in language, religion, and culture.

What was the political structure of Phoenicia?

Phoenicia was not a unified kingdom but rather a federation of city-states, each ruled by a separate king.

Which were the most prominent Phoenician cities?

The most prominent Phoenician cities were Byblos, Tyre, Sidon, Beirut, and Arvada.

What was the impact of the Sea Peoples on the Phoenician city-states?

The Sea Peoples brought about the Bronze Age collapse, but the Phoenician city-states were relatively unscathed, possibly due to paying them off, and they emerged to dominate the region economically.

What was Phoenicia's most valuable export?

Phoenicia's most valuable export was timber, but they also traded in manufactured goods created from ivory, wood, stone, metal, wool, and linen.

Where did the Phoenicians establish trading colonies?

The Phoenicians established trading colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Sicily, Sardinia, southern Spain, and the coast of northern Africa, with Carthage being one of the most famous.

What happened to the Phoenician city-states after the Bronze Age collapse?

After the Bronze Age collapse, the absence of the once great powers in the region allowed the Phoenician city-states to dominate the region economically.

How did the Assyrian Empire interact with the Phoenician city-states?

The Assyrian Empire often demanded tribute from the Phoenician city-states, and at times, military campaigns were launched against them, but some city-states managed to maintain a degree of autonomy by forming alliances or submitting to Assyrian rule.

What was the significance of the cedar trees of Phoenicia in the ancient world?

The cedar trees of Phoenicia were highly valued for their timber, which was used in construction and mentioned in Egyptian texts and the Bible as an object of great worth.

How did the Phoenicians contribute to the development of the alphabet?

While the script does not detail the Phoenician alphabet, it is known that they are credited with developing an early alphabetic writing system that influenced Western scripts, which will be discussed in another program.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Introduction to the Phoenicians

This segment introduces the Phoenicians, an ancient civilization known for their maritime prowess and cultural ties to the Canaanites. The term 'Phoenicia' is derived from the Greek word 'phoinix,' meaning 'crimson' or 'purple,' possibly due to a purple dye extracted from local shellfish. The Phoenicians were not a unified kingdom but a federation of city-states along the eastern Mediterranean coast, each governed by a king. Prominent cities included Byblos, Tyre, Sidon, and Beirut. The Phoenicians were traders, exporting timber and manufactured goods and importing precious stones and commodities. They established colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Carthage, which became a significant power. The script also discusses the Sea Peoples and the Bronze Age collapse, which affected the region but left the Phoenician city-states largely unscathed.

05:02

📜 Early References and Assyrian Interactions

The second paragraph delves into early historical references to the Phoenicians, particularly from Assyrian royal inscriptions. It discusses the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser I's accounts of his campaigns in Phoenicia, where he claimed to have harvested cedar trees and encountered a narwhal. The paragraph also highlights the significance of cedar in ancient Egypt and the Bible, and how it was a costly resource for rulers like Solomon, who had to cede cities in exchange for it. The text also describes Assyrian military campaigns and the formation of anti-Assyrian coalitions by Levantine kingdoms, including Phoenician city-states. It details the Assyrian King Sennacherib's conquests and the submission of local rulers, including those from Phoenicia.

10:04

🛡 Phoenician- Assyrian Alliances and Conflicts

This section explores the complex relationship between the Phoenicians and the Assyrian Empire, marked by both alliances and conflicts. It discusses a treaty between the Assyrian King Esarhaddon and the Phoenician King Baal of Tyre, which granted Baal control over several ports in exchange for loyalty and tribute. The paragraph also covers the rebellion of Baal against Assyria, joining forces with Egypt and Nubia, and the subsequent Assyrian response under King Ashurbanipal. It details Ashurbanipal's campaigns, the submission of various kings, including those from Phoenicia, and the Assyrian use of the Phoenician Navy in their military endeavors.

15:06

🏰 The Siege of Tyre and the Fall of the Assyrian Empire

The fourth paragraph focuses on the siege of Tyre by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II, which lasted for over a decade. It discusses the eventual agreement between Tyre and Babylon, allowing Tyre to maintain local rule in exchange for naval support. The paragraph also covers the transition of power in the region from the Neo-Babylonian Empire to the Persian Achaemenid dynasty under Cyrus the Great. It highlights the Phoenician Navy's role in Persian campaigns, including the invasion of Greece, and the revolt in Phoenicia during the reign of Persian King Artaxerxes III, which was ultimately suppressed.

20:08

🏹 Alexander the Great and the Hellenization of Phoenicia

The final paragraph discusses the arrival of Alexander the Great in Phoenicia and his conquest of the region. It details the siege and eventual fall of Tyre, the city's punishment, and the impact on its inhabitants. The paragraph also touches on the Hellenization of Phoenicia and the decline of historical references to the Phoenicians in later periods. It concludes with a teaser for future discussions on the Phoenicians' contributions to Western culture, such as the development of the alphabet, and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content and follow the channel on social media.

Keywords

💡Phoenicia

Phoenicia was an ancient civilization located along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean, known for its city-states and maritime prowess. It was not a single kingdom but a federation of city-states, each with its own ruler. The term 'Phoenicia' is derived from the Greek word 'phoinix,' meaning 'crimson' or 'purple,' possibly due to the region's production of a prized purple dye. The video discusses how Phoenicia rose to prominence after the Bronze Age collapse, becoming a significant economic power through trade and colonization.

💡Canaanite

The Canaanites were an ancient group of people who inhabited the region of Canaan during the Bronze Age, which is considered to be the precursor to the Phoenicians. The script suggests that Phoenicians likely saw themselves as descendants of the Canaanites, sharing a common language, culture, and religious practices. The video connects the Phoenicians' cultural continuity with their Canaanite ancestors, highlighting the historical lineage and shared heritage.

💡Sea Peoples

The Sea Peoples were a group of maritime invaders who are believed to have caused widespread destruction and upheaval in the eastern Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age. The video mentions that the Sea Peoples ravaged the area, contributing to the Bronze Age collapse. However, the Phoenician city-states were relatively unscathed, possibly due to their strategic payments to the invaders, which allowed them to emerge as dominant powers in the region post-collapse.

💡Bronze Age collapse

The Bronze Age collapse refers to a period of widespread societal collapse around 1200 to 1150 BCE, which resulted in the decline of major powers such as the Egyptians, Hittites, and Assyrians in the Levant. The video explains that this period of chaos allowed the Phoenician city-states to rise in prominence, as the absence of these great powers created a power vacuum that the Phoenicians were able to fill through trade and economic dominance.

💡City-states

A city-state is a sovereign state that consists of a single city and its dependent territories. The video highlights that Phoenicia was a federation of such city-states, each ruled by a separate king. Prominent Phoenician city-states included Byblos, Tyre, Sidon, and Beirut. These city-states were not only political entities but also served as hubs for trade and cultural exchange, playing a crucial role in the Phoenician civilization's prosperity.

💡Murex

The murex is a type of shellfish from which a valuable purple dye was extracted in ancient times. The video suggests that the term 'Phoenicia' may have been derived from the Greek word for this dye, due to the region's association with the production of this highly prized commodity. The murex and the dye it produced were significant to the Phoenician economy and contributed to their reputation and wealth.

💡Trade

Trade was a cornerstone of the Phoenician economy, with the city-states being coastal and serving as lucrative trade hubs. The video describes how the Phoenicians traded timber, manufactured goods, and various commodities, and established trading colonies across the Mediterranean. Their seafaring skills and extensive trade networks allowed them to reach the ends of the known world, contributing to their wealth and influence.

💡Carthage

Carthage was a powerful Phoenician colony located on the coast of northern Africa. The video notes that it was one of the most famous Phoenician colonies and eventually became a great military and commercial power in its own right. Carthage's establishment and success exemplify the Phoenicians' ability to expand their influence and culture through colonization and strategic trade partnerships.

💡Assyrian Empire

The Assyrian Empire was a major power in the ancient Near East, and the video discusses its interactions with the Phoenician city-states. The Assyrians are noted for their military campaigns and the collection of tribute from the coastal regions of the Levant, including Phoenicia. The relationship between the Phoenicians and the Assyrians was complex, involving both conflict and cooperation, as seen in the various treaties and tributes mentioned in the script.

💡Persian Empire

The Persian Empire, under the Achaemenid dynasty, succeeded the Assyrians and Babylonians as the dominant power in the region. The video explains that the Phoenicians were generally allowed to continue their activities as long as they paid taxes and provided naval support. The Persians' use of the Phoenician fleet in their campaigns, including the invasion of Greece, highlights the strategic importance of the Phoenician city-states during this period.

💡Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king, is noted in the video for his conquest of Phoenicia. His interactions with the Phoenician city-states, particularly the siege of Tyre, demonstrate the continued strategic importance of these cities. Alexander's eventual incorporation of Phoenicia into his empire marked the end of the Phoenician city-states' independence and the beginning of a period of Hellenization.

Highlights

Introduction to the Phoenicians, their geographical location, and cultural background.

Etymology of the term 'Phoenicia' and its possible connection to the purple dye industry.

Phoenicia as a federation of city-states rather than a unified kingdom.

Prominent Phoenician cities and their roles as trade hubs.

The Sea Peoples' invasion and its impact on the Bronze Age collapse.

Phoenician city-states' resilience and their economic dominance post-Bronze Age collapse.

Phoenician trade commodities and their extensive trade networks.

The establishment of Phoenician colonies and the rise of Carthage.

Historical sources on the Phoenicians, including Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek texts.

Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser I's inscriptions and his interactions with Phoenicia.

The significance of Phoenician cedar in ancient Egypt and the Bible.

Assyrian military campaigns and the tribute system with Phoenician city-states.

The Treaty between Assyrian King Sennacherib and the King of Tyre.

The rebellion against Assyria and the role of Phoenician city-states in the conflict.

The fall of the Assyrian Empire and the rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire's influence on Phoenicia.

The long siege of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar II and its aftermath.

Phoenician autonomy under Persian rule and their contribution to the Persian Navy.

The Phoenician revolt against Persian rule and its suppression.

Alexander the Great's conquest of Phoenicia and the siege of Tyre.

The decline of Phoenician references in historical texts and their lasting impact on Western culture.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi everyone welcome to this program

which if you've been following the

series on ancient canaan you'll

definitely be interested in in a sense

it's a continuation of that story this

episode will be the start of several

programs on the Phoenicians so without

further ado let's begin first though

let's clarify some basic terms what we

geographically refer to as Phoenicia

encompassed certain cities of the

eastern Mediterranean coastal region

that shared a common language culture

religion and sense of political

solidarity the terms Phoenicia and

Phoenicians are actually derived from

the Greek word finest meaning crimson or

purple scholars aren't exactly sure why

such a word was used to describe them

but it may have been due to a purple dye

that was extracted from the murex

shellfish found along the shores of the

northern Levantine coast

the Phoenicians though probably thought

of themselves as descendants of the

Canaanite peoples of the Bronze Age

after all they had much in common with

their Canaanite ancestors they more or

less spoke a version of the same

language worshiped many if not all of

the same gods and goddesses and as far

as we know maintained many aspects of

the same culture

[Music]

Phoenicia was not a kingdom per se but

rather a Federation of city-states that

was each ruled by a separate king in

fact it had been this way since the

beginning of the region's recorded

history the most prominent Phoenician

cities were Byblos tyre Sidon Beirut and

Arvada being coastal cities and

lucrative trade hubs Phoenicia attracted

many different peoples from all parts of

the world one such group were the

infamous Sea Peoples who according to

Egyptian hygge Riddick Cypriot and other

textual sources ravaged the area and

brought about what historians today

referred to as the Bronze Age collapse

of 1,200 to 1150 BCE which at least with

regard to the Levant brought about the

end of Egyptian Assyrian and Hittite

domination of the region Egypt lost its

empire in Asia which was mostly in

Canaan and the Assyrians lost their

connection to the Levant lucrative trade

with northern Mesopotamia the Hittites

though suffered the most as their state

was completely wiped off the map gone

finished never to arise again in place

of these great powers new political

entities arose in the Levant including

neo-hittite aramean and other kingdoms

such as Israel Judah Edom Moab and the

Philistine States surprisingly though

the Phoenician city-states were left

relatively unscathed by the Sea Peoples

and several scholars think that this may

have been due to the Phoenicians simply

paying them off what is known is that

after the chaos of the Late Bronze Age

the absence of the once great powers of

the region the Egyptians Hittites and

Assyrians enabled the Phoenician

city-states

to completely dominate the region

economically venetie's most valuable

export was timber but the Phoenicians

also traded in manufactured goods

created from ivory wood stone metal wool

and linen these products were traded at

numerous overseas destinations by

seafaring Phoenicians

who also brought back to their cities

precious stones spices gold silver and

various other commodities that were in

high demand such Goods literally took

them to the ends of the known world

especially towards the West westward

expansion and colonization was really

the Phoenicians only option if they

wanted to grow in wealth and influence

thus trading colonies were set up all

over the Mediterranean in places such as

Sicily Sardinia southern Spain and

probably most famously the coast of

northern Africa many of these were

temporary settlements but others such as

what became Carthage not only became

permanent but great military and

commercial powers of their own most of

our sources on the Phoenicians come from

Egyptian Assyrian Babylonian Hebrew and

Greek texts though there are plenty of

Phoenician inscriptions that have been

uncovered all over the Mediterranean

world few of them actually give an

account of Phoenician history this

doesn't mean that historical texts in

the Phoenician language didn't exist for

we have references and Greek sources to

the works of Phoenician authors but

copies of these referenced primary

documents at least so far have not been

found this could be because many

Phoenician texts were written on papyrus

and thus probably disintegrated or were

burned by fire during the many invasions

of the area

some of the earliest references to the

Phoenicians come from the royal

inscriptions of the Assyrian King

tiglath-pileser the first who ruled

between 1114 to 1076 BCE he claims to

have not only visited the area but also

bring back the region's

prized cedar trees to the Assyrian

capital of Ashur as well as boast about

killing what's been identified by

scholars as a narwhal while on a boating

trip around the city of Arvada one of

his inscriptions reads I marched to

Mount Lebanon I cut down and carried off

cedar beams for the temple of the gods

Anu and a dad the great gods my Lords I

continued to the land of a muru and

conquered the entire land of a marul I

received tribute from the lands of

byblos Sidon and Arvada I wrote in boats

of the people of our vaad and traveled

successfully a distance of three double

hours from the city of Arvada in Island

to the city of Samoa which is in the

land of a muru I killed at sea and the

hero which is called a sea horse

[Music]

[Applause]

Phoenicia cedar trees were quite famous

in the ancient world Egyptian texts as

well as the Bible mentioned them as

objects of great value the ancient

Egyptian tale of when imam mentions

ships from byblos and Sidon filled with

timber on their way to Egypt while the

Bible's books of kings and chronicles

speak of King Hiram of Tyre sending

loads of cedar wood to Jerusalem for

Solomon's great temple the cedar though

came at a price

Solomon had to give up the control of 20

cities as payment in his inscriptions

the Assyrian King Ashin a Sir Paul the

second mentions several military

campaigns in the coastal regions of the

eastern Mediterranean an excerpt from

one of his annals from around the year

870 BCE reads at that time I made my way

to the slopes of Mount Lebanon and went

up to the great sea of the land am uru I

cleanse my weapons in the great sea and

made sacrifices to the gods I received

tribute from the kings of the Seacoast

from the lands of the people of tyre

sidon by blows Mahalo to my zoo Kazu am

uru and the city of Arvada which is on

an island in the sea

silver gold tin bronze a large female

monkey a small female monkey evany

boxwood ivory Abner Heroes which are sea

creatures they submitted to me such

inscriptions may give the impression

that Assyrian incursions into and the

collection of tribute from the coastal

regions of the Levant were easy however

this wasn't the case as the smaller

kingdoms of the Levant realized that the

tide of assyrian expansion had no end

they banded together to form anti

assyrian coalitions of their own one of

these was during the reign of Solomon

nazar the third who ruled between 858 to

824 BCE

in a monument known as the Kirk monolith

psalmanazar the

details one of these encounters that

occurred in 853 BCE near the town of

Carcar among the 11 or 12 rulers that he

faced two of them were the Phoenician

kings of byblos and Arvada though the

Battle of Carcar was a stalemate

within a decade psalmanazar was able to

defeat all of his rivals and demand

tribute from them by the reign of the

Assyrian King Sennacherib in 704 BCE

fear had compelled most of the local

kings along the eastern Mediterranean

coast to submit to a Syrian rule if the

Assyrian King didn't like a local ruler

he could replace him at will as the

following text attributed to Sennacherib

clearly demonstrates luli king of Sidon

whom the terror inspiring glamour of my

lordship had overwhelmed fled far

overseas and perished the awe-inspiring

splendor of the weapon of Ashur my lord

overwhelmed his strong cities such as

great Sidon little Sidon bit City Sarab

to Mohali ba Mushu oxy and Akko all his

fortress cities walled and

well-preserved

with food and water for his Garrison's

and they bowed in submission to my feet

I installed earth wall upon the throne

to be their king and imposed upon him

tribute due to me as his overlord to be

paid annually without interruption as we

can see from this passage it's clearly

the Assyrians who called the shots

this however didn't mean that local

rulers couldn't personally benefit from

a Syrian expansion there's a copy of a

treaty between cynic Arab successor SR

Hadden and a certain ball king of Tyre

yes this is the same name as the popular

Canaanite and finishing god in it the

king ball of tyre is made to be the

servant of SR Hadden with certain

responsibilities and of course

unquestioned loyalty to the assyrian

crown in return though

is given control of several ports such

as byblos and even some such as Akko and

door far to the south with several gods

and goddesses called as witnesses the

treaty states that ball will suffer many

curses should he break his oath it turns

out that ball did break his oath and

joined forces with Egypt and its nubian

Kushite arrow taharka balls betrayal was

noted by SR Hagen in an inscription in

the course of my campaign I said of

fortifications against ball the king of

Tyre who trusted in his friend taharka

the king of cush threw off the yoke of

the god assure my lord

and kept answering me with insolence I

cut off the supply of food and water

that sustained their lives

hasar haedong later states

I conquered tyre which is in the midst

of the sea and took away all of the

cities and possessions of all its king

who had trusted in taharka king of cush

and I conquered Lower Egypt Upper Egypt

and cush struck taharka its King five

times with arrows and ruled his entire

land

I wrote to all of the Kings who are in

the midst of the sea from Cyprus and

Ionia to Tarsus and they bowed down at

my feet I received their heavy tribute I

carried off gold silver goods

possessions people young and old horses

oxen and sheep and goats they're heavy

booty that was beyond counting to

Assyria

I placed Kings governors officials and

harbor masters over their lands these

claims may be a bit exaggerated since

there's no evidence that a Syrian forces

ventured further south than Memphis and

eventually taharka was able to launch a

counter-attack from the Nile Delta

hasar hoddan does claim to have sacked

the Egyptian capital of Memphis and even

taken to heart cos wife and showed

including the Crown Prince Uche Anna who

rule back with him to Assyria which is

actually depicted on a victory stealing

however just a few years later the

region was an open rebellion against

Assyria and he saw hoddan was forced to

make his way back to Phoenicia to put

down the insurgents he never got there

as he died along the way his son

Ashurbanipal succeeded him as king of

Assyria many scholars debate if he

actually went to Egypt himself or rather

dispatched his most trusted men to put

an end to the insurrection regardless in

his royal inscriptions Ashurbanipal

claims that 22 kings from the seashore

the islands and the mainland servants

who belong to me brought heavy gifts to

me and kissed my feet I made these Kings

accompany my army over the land as well

as over the sea route with their armed

forces and their ships

among the 22 kings that Ashurbanipal

names were the Phoenician Kings ball

king of tyre the same one actually as

during SR Holland's reign milky Aqaba

the king of Byblos and I akin Lou the

king of our van since the main part of

tyre was reportedly on an impregnable

island and since Ashurbanipal made no

claims of its capture it's unlikely that

the city was held by a Syrian forces

however Baal must have known that his

city couldn't withstand in a Syrian

blockade forever and so probably thought

it wise to renew the treaty that he'd

made with SR Hadden several years prior

Ashurbanipal more or less seems to

confirm this in his annals from the Year

665 or 664 BCE in my third campaign I

marched against Paul king of Tyre who

lives on an island amidst the sea

because he did not heed my royal order

did not listen to my personal commands I

surrounded him with readouts seized his

communications on land and sea i thus

intercepted and made scarce their food

supply and forced them to submit to my

yoke he brought his own daughter and the

daughters of his brothers before me to

do menial services at the same time he

brought his son yaja milky who had not

yet crossed the sea to greet me as my

slave i had mercy upon him and returned

him the son the offspring of his loins

iock in lieu king of Avadh living also

on an island who had not submitted to

any of the kings of my family did now

submit to my yoke and brought his

daughter with a great dowry to Nineveh

to do menial services and he kissed my

feet

when the Assyrian Empire finally fell

around 610 BCE its former territories in

the Levant were taken over by the

neo-babylonian empire not all of them

though were easy to acquire tyre perhaps

learning from its conflicts with Assyria

was prepared for a protracted siege in

585 BCE the Babylonian king

nebuchadnezzar ii attacked tyre and at

least according to the historian

Josephus held it under siege for at

least 13 years even the Bible's Book of

Ezekiel makes mention of actually makes

fun of the long siege and the aging of

the Babylonian soldiers during the

process Son of Man Nebuchadnezzar king

of Babylon drove his army in a hard

campaign against tyre every head was

rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw

yet he and his army got no reward from

the campaign he led against tyre in the

end it seems that both sides came to

some sort of agreement since a prolonged

Babylonian blockade would have continued

to have hurt tyre in the long run and

Nebuchadnezzar probably grew tired no

pun intended of devoting so many

resources to simply subdue a city in the

middle of the sea the final result was

that tyre was allowed to be ruled by its

local kings in return for vassalage and

use of its large fleet of ships which

essentially gave the Babylonians a

powerful Navy around 540 BCE the

Persians conquered the area under Cyrus

the Great the period of rule under the

Persian Achaemenid dynasty from about

540 to 332 BCE was overall a bit more

peaceful and for the most part as long

as they paid their taxes the Phoenicians

were allowed to do as the

like the Babylonians the Persians also

inherited the Phoenician Navy which they

used on several occasions an exception

to this though came during the reign of

Cyrus his son come by --ss according to

Herodotus combined Swan to launch a

campaign against the Carthaginians but

the Phoenicians especially ships and

crews that were based in Tyre refused

there was a good reason for this you see

Carthage was a Phoenician colony that

had been initially founded by citizens

from Tyre according to Herodotus the

Phoenicians were bound by a strict

treaty and could not righteously attack

their own sons and the Phoenicians being

unwilling the rest were of no account as

fighters

thus the Carthaginians escaped being

enslaved by the Persians for come by

SACEUR swith the Phoenicians seeing that

they had willingly surrendered to the

Persians and the whole fleet drew its

strength from them

the Finnish and Navy though was

instrumental in the Persian invasion of

Greece in 480 BCE which ultimately ended

in disaster in 343 BCE there was a

revolt in Phoenicia during the reign of

the Persian king artaxerxes the third

were according to the ancient historian

diodorus siculus in anti persian

alliance was concocted between the

Phoenicians and the Cypriots with some

help from the Egyptians though tyre and

Arvada were also involved

it was Sidon that initially took the

lead while its King tennies with the

help of some 4000 Greek mercenaries

initially had some success he was

alarmed when he heard that a large

Persian force perhaps over 300 thousand

men with 300 ships was gathering nearby

and so he wrote to artaxerxes the third

informing him that he would secretly

surrender Sidon to the Persians if he

and his City would be spared keep in

mind though that these numbers are

believed by nearly all scholars to have

been greatly exaggerated

anyway artaxerxes agreed to the proposal

though Tenney's delivered as promised

artaxerxes had him killed

along with several hundred Sidonians the

ultimate fate of the survivors was a

rather tragic one the odorous states

when they saw the city and the walls

captured and swarming with the many

myriads of soldiers they shut themselves

their children and their women in their

houses and consumed them all in flames

they say that those who were then

destroyed in the fire

including the domestics amounted to more

than 40,000 after hearing what happened

inside on the other cities of Tyre and

Arvada surrendered without a fight and

resubmitted to Persian rule under which

they remained until 332 BCE when

Alexander of Macedon also known as

Alexander the Great came to Phoenicia

the historian Aryan writes Alexander

marched from Marathas and received the

surrender of byblos Sidon also invited

by the sidonians themselves who loathed

Persia and arias thence he proceeded

towards Tyre and on the way Tyrion

envoy's met him sent by the community to

say that tyre had decided to accept

Alexander's orders however when

Alexander wished to offer a sacrifice to

Hercules in tires Great Temple the

Tyrians refused outraged Alexander

decided to punish tyre and its residents

after a long blockade and siege in which

he had to build a causeway to the main

part of the city which was on an island

he finally entered Tyre and killed many

of its inhabitants

in addition thirty thousand of the

surviving Tyrians and some Carthaginians

were sold into slavery after which

Alexander is said to have finally made a

sacrifice to Hercules and held a

procession in his honor as the region

became more Hellenized references to the

Phoenicians in historical texts become

fewer until by the mid to late Roman

period they pretty much cease altogether

however the Phoenicians is impact on

Western culture is quite extensive we'll

discuss some of their inventions and

innovations such as the alphabet in

another program

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