The ancient civilization known for its alphabet is the Phoenicians. The Phoenician alphabet, developed around 1200 BCE, was one of the first phonetic alphabets and significantly influenced writing systems across the Mediterranean and beyond. It consisted of 22 characters representing consonant sounds and was widely adopted by neighboring cultures, leading to various adaptations, including the Greek and Latin alphabets. The simplicity and efficiency of the Phoenician alphabet made it a critical development in human communication, facilitating trade and literacy throughout the ancient world.