The Phoenician Voyages

The Phoenicians were amazing sailors who lived thousands of years ago. Their homeland was along the coast of what is now Lebanon. They built strong ships and sailed all across the Mediterranean Sea. They may have even sailed around all of Africa long before other explorers.

Master Sailors

The Phoenicians were some of the best sailors of the ancient world. They used the stars to navigate at night. Their ships were made from strong cedar wood. They sailed to places like Spain, North Africa, and Britain to trade goods like purple dye, glass, and metal.

Amazing Voyages

An ancient story says that Phoenician sailors sailed all the way around Africa. This trip would have taken about three years. They also set up trading posts all around the Mediterranean Sea. One of their most famous cities was Carthage in North Africa. The Phoenicians helped connect different parts of the ancient world.

Fun Facts

• The Phoenicians invented one of the first alphabets, which many modern alphabets are based on.
• Phoenician purple dye was made from sea snails and was very expensive.
• The word 'Phoenician' comes from a Greek word meaning purple, because of their famous purple dye.

Did You Know?

The Phoenicians may have sailed around the entire continent of Africa more than 2,000 years before European explorers did.