| Tripoli-Lebanon And The :
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The early Canaanites established on the
coast of Lebanon relied, of necessity, on their ability to trade and to find new markets
for their merchandise. In the course of years they began to compete with one another with
the result that jealousy and rivalries broke out. Although they spoke a common language
and worshipped the same gods, they never could unite because of their interests and
independent ways. They appear as "Canaanites" (Kina'ni) organized in
city-kingdoms in the royal Egyptian archives of the fourteenth century B.C. and
were called "Phoenicians" by the Greeks at the end of the second millennium B.C.
when they became familiar figures in the trading potts of the Aegean Sea and mainland
Greece. They, however, never spoke of themselves as "Phoenicians" but
as Tyrians, Sidonians, Biblians, Berytians and Aradians. These bold and enterprising
seafarers have been credited with the invention and diffusion through the Mediterranean
basin of a simplified twenty-two letter alphabet, without which perhaps the story of
Western civilization may have followed another course. Ironically, they have left behind
little in the way of written records and what we know about them comes from the accounts
of foreigners or their enemies and commercial rivals of the past. Since the turn of the
century excavations of the ancient port cities of Lebanon have at last enabled us to learn
more about the daily life and customs of this people who at one time controlled the trade
routes of the ancient world. Top Page
To the south Tyre and Sidon, the
rival sister cities, competed for the control of the sea trade and caravan routes from the
hinterland. To the north of Sidon caine flerytus, modern Beirut, renowned in the past for
its extensive converse and, later on, for its famous school of law. Then came Byblos,
modern Jebeil, the most important cedar wood shipping center of the ancient world. Another
Phoenician city-state Aradus (modern Arwad), an island fortress, lies further to the north
and is located in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Each city-state was a separate
entity, ruled by a king who at times served as high-priest in the temple of the
city’s patron god. His word was law and he held sway over the lives and
affairs of his subjects in the city and its adjoining territory. Sometimes he was advised
by a council of elders, more often he ruled alone.Top Page
Tripoli was relatively a late comer on the
historical scene.Its renown was due to an unprecedented development in the political
institutions of the Phoenician city-states. From the earliest times, as stated above,
there was no incentive for political unity. Each city followed an independent course
putting its commercial interests above any other consideration. Top Page
Historical references
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