The empire known for its extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean was the Phoenician Empire. The Phoenicians, a maritime trading civilization based in present-day Lebanon, thrived from around 1500 to 300 BCE. They established numerous city-states, such as Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos, and were known for their seafaring skills and trade routes that extended as far as the British Isles and West Africa. The Phoenicians specialized in trading goods like purple dye, glass, and textiles. They are also credited with developing one of the earliest alphabets, which significantly influenced later writing systems.