The Phoenicians
3/12/20261 hr 3 min
Three thousand years ago, Phoenician ships sailed west across the Mediterranean, their holds packed with pottery, wine and enslaved people to trade. Passing beyond the fabled Pillars of Heracles, they were pushing at the familiar limits of the ancient world.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Josephine Quinn, to explore the story of the Phoenicians. From the bustling sea ports of Tyre and Sidon to the founding of famous settlements like Carthage, discover how these remarkable seafarers built vast trading networks across the Mediterranean. Tristan and Josephine discuss who the Phoenicians really were, how their reputation as master mariners took shape, and the enduring legacies often linked to them, including the spread of the alphabet and their influence on the ancient world.
MORE
Tyre: Jewel of Phoenicia
Origins of Carthage
Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds
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First 90 secondsTristan Hughes· Host0:00
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to History Hit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week, covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com/subscribe. [upbeat music] It's 3,000 years ago and a fleet of sturdy ships sailed west past a towering promontory, overlooking a wide strait of water. In later centuries, the Greeks would label this great limestone mountain a pillar of their hero Heracles, the Rock of Gibraltar. The sailors come from far away, from a city on the eastern most coast of the great sea they have just left, the island stronghold of Tyre. Their expertly crafted ships originate from the great cedar wood forests close to their coastal home. Together, they have traversed hundreds of kilometers of coastline, and now they have finally reached the exit