The ancient civilization recognized for its extensive trade networks is the Phoenicians. Centered in present-day Lebanon and parts of the Mediterranean, the Phoenicians developed a sophisticated system of maritime trade that connected them to distant cultures such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. They were known for their innovative shipbuilding techniques and created a vibrant economy based on trade in goods like timber, textiles, and purple dye. Their development of the alphabet, which influenced later writing systems, and their establishment of city-states, such as Tyre and Sidon, significantly contributed to their trading prowess and cultural exchanges.