Scrapbook Reflection Page
Phoenicia was a culture that developed in what we know today as modern day Lebanon, the culture first came to light in 1200 BCE when trade was becoming exceptionally popular. The Phoenicians were a culture built strongly on trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Although the Phoenicians were not known for great victories in war or spectacular philosophers they still had many accomplishments. One of Phoenicia's most well known inventions was the alphabet created during the 15th century. The twenty-two letter alphabet was originally created for merchants to better trade with colonies all over the Phoenician coast. The alphabet became so popular that the idea eventually spread and developed into the alphabet that we use today. The alphabet increased in popularity spreading the word of Phoenician trade all throughout the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians traded a variety of merchandise including the color purple one of their very own inventions. They also traded wood from the overflowing cedar trees that bordered Syria. Their trade also included mystical and colorful glass works, and vases formed from Phoenician mud itself. As much as Phoenicia was known for trade they were known more for their merchant ships. The Phoenicians were the inventors of the bireme a uniquely designed double-decker ship. These biremes were the first trireme, except they did not have battering rams as the Greek triremes did. These biremes were used mainly for trade, the sheer size allowed more supplies to be loaded aboard and the rowers sat below the deck which provided faster transportation.
The first page of my scrapbook I dedicated to Phoenician trade due to how much it influenced the culture. I used pictures that all surround the subject of trade, I added a map that showed the trade routes that the Phoenicians had developed all throughout the Mediterranean Sea giving the reader an idea of how vast the routes really were. I also added pictures that showed a few items the Phoenicians traded such as glass vase, and a picture of the cedar forest representing the cedar wood trade. On my second page I talked about all of the subjects that revolved around the Mediterranean Sea such as the shell of a Murex Snail, Dagon the god of fishing, and the four different ship models the Phoenicians used on the open water. I added this page because of how much Phoenicia relied on the Mediterranean Sea for trade, intellectual purposes, and religion. My third page talks about Phoenician inventions and shows six different pictures of the three main inventions that came out of Phoenicia. The first invention shows the alphabet, one picture shows a diagram of the twenty-two different letters and the other shows two stone slabs written on with the Phoenician alphabet. These two slabs were a fantastic discovery for archaeologists, they used these slabs to translate parts of the language so we could better understand how the modern day alphabet developed. The second invention that I mention is the bireme which was one of the Phoenicians most accomplished discoveries. Lastly I talk about the Murex Snail and the color purple which came out of the Mediterranean Sea right off the coast of Phoenicia. On the fourth page I talk about Phoenicians Warfare, although the Phoenicians didn't start many wars themselves they encountered quite a few battles and sieges. In 585 BCE Babylon attacked Tyre to try and capture the trade resources that the city contained. From there Tyre was attacked many times not only from the Babylonians, but also from the Assyrians. My last page on Phoenician art talks about the many talents that the Phoenicians contained when it came to the arts. The artwork that came out of Phoenicia was traded all throughout the Mediterranean Sea which led to Phoenicia becoming well known for their glass works and vases.
Throughout this scrapbook project I haven't learned a great deal about my culture due to the fact that I know so much already. Yet if I had a choice to visit my culture and travel thousands of years in the past I would in a heartbeat. I would love to stand there and watch the Phoenicians trade in their massive markets or take a ride on one of their many biremes. Even though the Phoenicians were constantly attacked by the Babylonians and Assyrians I would never turn down the chance to go back in time. Who knows, I might even be able to meet King Nebuchadnezzar on one of his many sieges of Tyre. Phoenicia may not of had massive landmarks like Egypt or renowned philosophers like Rome, but they had intelligence. It takes skill to avoid being crushed by the Babylonians when they decide that today they want your city. It also takes skill to create an alphabet and have it become the most used form of writing today. Phoenicia may not of been like Egypt or Rome, but they had their own unique abilities that made them stand out from everybody else.
Phoenicia was a culture that developed in what we know today as modern day Lebanon, the culture first came to light in 1200 BCE when trade was becoming exceptionally popular. The Phoenicians were a culture built strongly on trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Although the Phoenicians were not known for great victories in war or spectacular philosophers they still had many accomplishments. One of Phoenicia's most well known inventions was the alphabet created during the 15th century. The twenty-two letter alphabet was originally created for merchants to better trade with colonies all over the Phoenician coast. The alphabet became so popular that the idea eventually spread and developed into the alphabet that we use today. The alphabet increased in popularity spreading the word of Phoenician trade all throughout the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians traded a variety of merchandise including the color purple one of their very own inventions. They also traded wood from the overflowing cedar trees that bordered Syria. Their trade also included mystical and colorful glass works, and vases formed from Phoenician mud itself. As much as Phoenicia was known for trade they were known more for their merchant ships. The Phoenicians were the inventors of the bireme a uniquely designed double-decker ship. These biremes were the first trireme, except they did not have battering rams as the Greek triremes did. These biremes were used mainly for trade, the sheer size allowed more supplies to be loaded aboard and the rowers sat below the deck which provided faster transportation.
The first page of my scrapbook I dedicated to Phoenician trade due to how much it influenced the culture. I used pictures that all surround the subject of trade, I added a map that showed the trade routes that the Phoenicians had developed all throughout the Mediterranean Sea giving the reader an idea of how vast the routes really were. I also added pictures that showed a few items the Phoenicians traded such as glass vase, and a picture of the cedar forest representing the cedar wood trade. On my second page I talked about all of the subjects that revolved around the Mediterranean Sea such as the shell of a Murex Snail, Dagon the god of fishing, and the four different ship models the Phoenicians used on the open water. I added this page because of how much Phoenicia relied on the Mediterranean Sea for trade, intellectual purposes, and religion. My third page talks about Phoenician inventions and shows six different pictures of the three main inventions that came out of Phoenicia. The first invention shows the alphabet, one picture shows a diagram of the twenty-two different letters and the other shows two stone slabs written on with the Phoenician alphabet. These two slabs were a fantastic discovery for archaeologists, they used these slabs to translate parts of the language so we could better understand how the modern day alphabet developed. The second invention that I mention is the bireme which was one of the Phoenicians most accomplished discoveries. Lastly I talk about the Murex Snail and the color purple which came out of the Mediterranean Sea right off the coast of Phoenicia. On the fourth page I talk about Phoenicians Warfare, although the Phoenicians didn't start many wars themselves they encountered quite a few battles and sieges. In 585 BCE Babylon attacked Tyre to try and capture the trade resources that the city contained. From there Tyre was attacked many times not only from the Babylonians, but also from the Assyrians. My last page on Phoenician art talks about the many talents that the Phoenicians contained when it came to the arts. The artwork that came out of Phoenicia was traded all throughout the Mediterranean Sea which led to Phoenicia becoming well known for their glass works and vases.
Throughout this scrapbook project I haven't learned a great deal about my culture due to the fact that I know so much already. Yet if I had a choice to visit my culture and travel thousands of years in the past I would in a heartbeat. I would love to stand there and watch the Phoenicians trade in their massive markets or take a ride on one of their many biremes. Even though the Phoenicians were constantly attacked by the Babylonians and Assyrians I would never turn down the chance to go back in time. Who knows, I might even be able to meet King Nebuchadnezzar on one of his many sieges of Tyre. Phoenicia may not of had massive landmarks like Egypt or renowned philosophers like Rome, but they had intelligence. It takes skill to avoid being crushed by the Babylonians when they decide that today they want your city. It also takes skill to create an alphabet and have it become the most used form of writing today. Phoenicia may not of been like Egypt or Rome, but they had their own unique abilities that made them stand out from everybody else.