The early civilization that most relied on seaborne trade routes was the Phoenician civilization. The Phoenicians, who existed from around 1500 BCE to 300 BCE in the region of modern-day Lebanon and parts of Syria and Israel, were skilled sailors and merchants. They established trade networks throughout the Mediterranean Sea, reaching as far as North Africa, Southern Europe, and even into the Atlantic Ocean.
Their extensive maritime trade facilitated the exchange of goods such as textiles, glass, and purple dye, as well as cultural exchanges. The Phoenicians are also credited with the development of one of the earliest alphabets, which greatly influenced later writing systems. Their reliance on trade and navigation played a pivotal role in shaping the economy and culture of the ancient Mediterranean world.