Question

Почему о финикийцах шла дурная слава?

Answer 1

Они были торговцами и пытались извлечь максимальную выгоду из свего ремесла. Соотвественно они часто обманывали людей.

Answer 2

Во многих странах ходила плохая слава о финикийцах. Финикийцы занимались торговлей «живым товаром» — рабами, которых часто захватывали насильно в тех местах, где торговали. В плавания они отправлялись вооруженными, занимаясь морским разбоем. 

Answer 3

The Bad Reputation of the Phoenicians

The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that thrived in the eastern Mediterranean from around 1500 BCE to 300 BCE. Despite their significant contributions to trade, navigation, and culture, they acquired a somewhat negative reputation in history. Several factors contributed to this perception:

1. Competition and Rivalry: The Phoenicians were renowned traders and seafarers, which led to competition and rivalry with other civilizations. This competition often resulted in conflicts and tensions, which may have contributed to the negative portrayal of the Phoenicians.

2. Cultural Differences: The Phoenicians had their own distinct culture, language, and religious practices. Their worship of deities such as Baal and Astarte involved rituals that were seen as unconventional or even immoral by other cultures. These differences in religious practices may have contributed to the negative perception of the Phoenicians.

3. Carthaginian Influence: The Phoenician city of Carthage, located in modern-day Tunisia, became a major power in the Mediterranean and posed a significant threat to the Roman Republic. The conflicts between Carthage and Rome, such as the Punic Wars, resulted in the demonization of Carthaginians and, by extension, the Phoenicians.

4. Lack of Historical Records: The Phoenicians did not leave behind extensive written records of their own history and culture. Most of what is known about them comes from the accounts of their rivals and enemies, which may have influenced the negative portrayal of the Phoenicians.

It is important to note that while the Phoenicians may have had a negative reputation in some historical accounts, they were also highly regarded for their contributions to trade, navigation, and the spread of civilization in the ancient world. Their innovations in shipbuilding, exploration, and the development of the alphabet had a lasting impact on subsequent civilizations.