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Phoenicia is an ancient nation that existed on the east coast of the [[Mediterranean]] in appriximately what is now [[Lebanon]] and northern [[Israel]]. Its chief cities included [[Tyre]], [[Sidon]], and [[Joppa]] (now [[Tel Aviv]]). The Phoenicians spoke a [[Semitic]] language and invented an alphabetic script that is the basis for [[Hebrew]], [[Greek]], and all Western alphabets. They were famous as seafarers and traders, and founded colonies all over the Mediterranean, including [[Carthage]] in what is now [[Tunisia]].