Job of Ancient Phoenician Scribes

The ancient Phoenicians were master traders and seamen. Their business dealings and colonization of nearby areas created the need for scribes to communicate with people across the region.

Location

Phoenicia was located along the western edge of the Mediterranean Sea. This area is now occupied by Syria and Lebanon.

Phoenician Traders

The Phoenicians became master traders, noted for their luxury goods, such as glass, intricately carved cedar, and ivory.

The Scribes

Because of the Phoenicians' extensive trading and colonization, they had a need to create many records. The scribes recorded laws, wrote letters, documented shipping receipts, commemorated historical feats, and more.

A New Writing Form

Before 1500 B.C. writing took the form of cuneiform. Egyptian hieroglyphics are one example of cuneiform writing. Because of the amount of record keeping required for trade, the Phoenicians developed a 22-letter alphabet (no vowels were included) that simplified writing.

The New Alphabet Spreads

As the Phoenicians traded with and conquered other countries, the new alphabet spread. The Greeks were introduced to the Phoenician alphabet between the 15th and 10th centuries B.C. All scripts used today, except for Chinese, have roots in the Phoenician alphabet.

References

• Near Eastern History
• Phoneicia
• Mount Lebanon

Resources

• History World