THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEA

NEARLY STATE STRUCTURES

THE PHOENICIANS• The Phoenicians

– Lived between the Mediterranean and mountains of Lebanon• Composed of city-states who were rivals: Tyre, Sidon, Byblos• Local government was led by king; aristocratic oligarchies

– Turned to industry and trade because of their meager lands • By 2500 B.C.E., dominated trade in the Mediterranean basin • Established colonies in Cyprus, Sicily, Spain, north Africa

– Culturally they were part of the Mesopotamian/Cuneiform world

• Phoenicians were famous merchants– “Let the buyer beware” was Greek phrase about the

Phoenicians– Specialized in purple dye, purple cloth, silver, gold– Carried goods of other peoples to distant lands

• Carthage– The chief Phoenician colony in North Africa was Carthage– Eventually became chief Phoenician city due to trade– An aristocratic republic run as an oligarchy.– Wealth based on trade; came to rule Spain, Sardinia– Army was build of mercenaries; navy was major war

machine

PHOENICIAN MEDITERRANEAN

ETRUSCANS• The Etruscans

– Probably migrated from Anatolia • Conquered local peoples• Formed ruling aristocracy

– Dominated Italy from 8th to 5th centuries B.C.E.• Expanded into Po River and South to Greeks• Created first local civilization in Italy

• Etruscan City-States– 12 leading city-states

• Were constantly at war• Politically similar to Greek society• Favored kings with aristocratic oligarchy

– Etruscan Society• Agriculture was very important• Dominated trade in area; traded with Greeks • Women seem to have had some rights in society• Borrowed Greek alphabet; invented arch• Religion was dark polytheism, superstitious

ETRUSCAN

WORLD

EARLY ROMAN STATE• The early kingdom of Rome: 753 – 509 BCE

– A small state arose of the Tiber River• Legendary founders = Romulus and Remus• People were Italics of the Latin tribe• State was a kingdom with an Etruscan king• Local Roman aristocracy resented Etruscan ruling

style• Expanded slowly and quietly for around 200 years

– Easy access to the Mediterranean• Trade routes led through Rome• Traded with Greeks, Etruscans, Carthaginians and

Kelts– Society

• Agriculture, warfare were typical• Society dominated by aristocracy called patricians• Religion borrowed heavily from Greeks, Etruscans

EARLYROMANWORLD