In the ancient land of Phoenicia, a coastal region with mountains, the people faced limited space for farming. Still, they managed to grow grains by using irrigation on the arable land and cultivated some fruits like olives, figs, dates, and more. 

However, what they were most famous for was exporting wood. The Phoenicians had plenty of cedar and fir forests, and they traded this valuable timber since the earliest times we have records of history. Cedar trees were tall and thick, making them perfect for making wood. They even had a nice smell! Other civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt were big customers. They received the cedar trunks through caravans that traveled up the Euphrates River or by ships that carried the wood to the African coast. 

The trade was so important that it's depicted in the artwork of Sargon II and mentioned in inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar. The Phoenician cedar wood was so prized that it was used to build King Solomon's famous temple, Herod's Temple in Zerubbabel, and the roof of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

In ancient times, the Phoenicians were famous for trading textiles, which were colorful and distinct items made from different materials. They used wool from sheep and goats, likely obtained from places like Damascus and Arabia. Linen yarn was imported from Egypt, and luxurious silk came from Persia. With these materials, the skilled Phoenicians created beautiful clothes and carpets with vibrant colors. Their multi-colored clothing was so well-known that it appeared in ancient stories like Homer's and in Egyptian art featuring Phoenicians from Sidon.

The Phoenicians had a special method for dyeing fabrics purple, producing shades from pink to violet. They used fluid from specific shellfish, such as Murex snails. The dyeing process was intricate and fascinating, involving catching the shellfish in traps suspended from floats and allowing them to putrefy in the sun. Thousands of shells were used to create the dye, which brought the Phoenicians great fame in the ancient world.

The highest-quality cloth was called Dibapha, meaning 'twice dipped' in the purple dye. The Phoenicians not only exported the dyed cloth but also the dye-extraction process, as seen from the shell deposits found in Phoenician colonies across the Mediterranean. Alongside their vivid colors, Phoenician textiles were renowned for their fine embroidery, featuring repeated designs like scarabs, rosettes, winged globes, lotus blossoms, and mythical creatures. Phoenician textiles were highly sought after and greatly admired, playing a significant role in their flourishing trade and earning them a lasting reputation in the ancient world.

The Phoenicians were also skilled traders of glassware. While the Egyptians had been making glass for a long time, it was the Phoenicians who began producing transparent glass around the 7th century BCE. They established important centers for glass production in cities like Sidon, Tyre, and Sarepta. Transparent glass was used to make mirrors, plates, and drinking glasses. However, the Phoenicians had a special appreciation for semi-transparent colored glass, such as blue, yellow, green, and brown. They used this colored glass for their more intricate creations, including jewelry and small plaques that were sewn onto clothing. Phoenician glassware, especially delicate perfume bottles, was found in faraway places like Cyprus, Sardinia, and Rhodes, showcasing the widespread reach and popularity of their beautiful glass creations. 

• Mesopotamia (Modern-day Iraq):

  • Exported: Phoenician cedar and fir wood, textiles, purple dye.

  • Imported: Metals, spices, luxury goods.
    
    

• Egypt:

  • Exported: Phoenician textiles, purple dye, glassware.

  • Imported: Linen yarn, precious metals, papyrus.
    
    

• Greece:

  • Exported: Phoenician crafts, glassware, textiles.

  • Imported: Olive oil, pottery, artwork.
    
    

• Cyprus:

  • Exported: Phoenician glassware, textiles, purple dye.

  • Imported: Copper, timber, agricultural products.
    
    

• Sardinia:

  • Exported: Phoenician glassware, textiles, crafts.

  • Imported: Metals, agricultural products.
    
    

• Carthage (North Africa):

  • Exported: Phoenician textiles, purple dye, glassware.

  • Imported: Timber, metals, agricultural goods.
    
    

• Persia (Ancient Iran):

  • Exported: Phoenician crafts, textiles.

  • Imported: Silk, precious gems, luxury goods.
    
    

• Arabia (Southern Arabia):

  • Exported: Phoenician textiles, purple dye, crafts.

  • Imported: Incense, spices, precious stones.
    
    

• Italy (Etruria and Rome):

  • Exported: Phoenician crafts, textiles, glassware.

  • Imported: Metals, artwork, luxury items.
    
    

• Anatolia (Modern-day Turkey):

  • Exported: Phoenician textiles, purple dye, glassware.

  • Imported: Metals, spices, luxury goods.

The Phoenicians were skilled traders who established extensive trade networks with various ancient civilizations. They exported valuable goods like textiles, glassware, and purple dye, while importing essential resources such as metals, linen yarn, and luxury items from these regions. This flourishing trade contributed to the prosperity and influence of the Phoenician civilization in the ancient world.