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[[File:Phoen 3.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Statue of Baal]]__NOTOC__

The Phoenicians are among the most influential people in the Ancient world. These people decisively shaped the culture and the economy of the Levant and greatly influenced the Ancient Greeks, Etruscans, Hebrews, and many others. Sadly, we only know them from the writings of other cultures. Among their contributions to civilization was the development of a phonetic alphabet and a pan-Mediterranean economy. They pioneered new political systems that influenced other civilizations in the Middle East. Their neighbors also adopted many of their cultural practices. They helped create the Classical World centered on the Mediterranean, which gave birth to the Western world.