Centered in mоdern-dаy Lebаnоn, [BLANK-1] wаs a prоsperous society of maritime traders who specialized in trading blue and purple cloths, bronze and iron ores and products, and wine throughout the Mediterranean (stretching from the modern-day Middle East to Morocco and Portugal). This society’s traders were generally welcomed by other societies because of their numerous quality trade goods. They thus established a massive Mediterranean sphere of influence during the Iron Age. This civilization is also one of the first to ever develop an alphabet – the basis of which served to inform the Greek and Roman alphabets later on. The society ultimately formed a permanent civilization in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia).