The ancient trade civilization that flourished in present-day Lebanon is the Phoenicians. Renowned as skilled mariners and traders, the Phoenicians established city-states such as Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos along the Mediterranean coast. They developed advanced shipbuilding techniques and created extensive trade networks that reached as far as North Africa, Spain, and even the British Isles. The Phoenicians are credited with inventing the alphabet that greatly influenced later writing systems, including Greek and Latin. Their contributions to trade and cultural transmission left a lasting impact on the ancient world, shaping economic and linguistic development throughout the Mediterranean region.