Changes

But in the 1000s B.C., and perhaps earlier, a marvelous new form of language developed among the traders on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where Lebanon is today.  The Phoenicians lived there and established towns such as Byblos, a religious center after which the Bible is named because the town exported papyrus.  The Phoenicians had ports and sea-traders would pick up exports such as fine linen, cedar, pine wood, dyed cloth, wine, glass, salt, dried fish, and embroideries.  The Phoenicians traded with the Hebrews, who used the cedars of Lebanon to build Solomon's temple.  Colonies of the Phoenicians included Tyre, Sidon and, along the coast of Northern Africa, Carthage.  Carthage later became powerful enough to compete with Rome.  The Assyrian empire, which was the world's first real empire, invaded the Phoenicians in the 500s B.C., causing them to collapse.

But in the 1000s B.C., and perhaps earlier, a marvelous new form of language developed among the traders on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where Lebanon is today.  The Phoenicians lived there and established towns such as Byblos, a religious center after which the Bible is named because the town exported papyrus.  The Phoenicians had ports and sea-traders would pick up exports such as fine linen, cedar, pine wood, dyed cloth, wine, glass, salt, dried fish, and embroideries.  The Phoenicians traded with the Hebrews, who used the cedars of Lebanon to build Solomon's temple.  Colonies of the Phoenicians included Tyre, Sidon and, along the coast of Northern Africa, Carthage.  Carthage later became powerful enough to compete with Rome.  The Assyrian empire, which was the world's first real empire, invaded the Phoenicians in the 500s B.C., causing them to collapse.

The new alphabet (to be distinguished from a language) developed by the Phoenicians to facilitate their trading was based on an alphabet of 22 letters.  All Western alphabets, such as English and French and Italian and Greek and Latin, were developed using this Phoenician alphabet.

The new alphabet (to be distinguished from a language) developed by the Phoenicians to facilitate their trading was based on an alphabet of 22 letters.  All Western alphabets, such as English and French and Italian and Greek and Latin, were descended from this Phoenician alphabet.

'''Mystery:  What was the level of literacy in ancient civilizations like Athens? What about the Picts?  What percentage of people could read and write?  Was literacy higher or lower than literacy in the United States today? What about, say, Mali?'''

'''Mystery:  What was the level of literacy in ancient civilizations like Athens? What about the Picts?  What percentage of people could read and write?  Was literacy higher or lower than literacy in the United States today? What about, say, Mali?'''