The Mediterranean has been an area of interaction for a great variety of cultures throughout the ages. Many different cultures have seen their origins in this area, including the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Canaanite, Phoenician, Hebrew, Carthaginian, Greek, Persian, Thracian, Etruscan, Iberian, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian, Arab and Ottoman cultures. As many of these cultures existed simultaneously, they relied heavily on the Mediterranean in order to interact with one another. Trade routes provided a way in which all these cultures could interact and exchange ideas with one another.
The Phoenicians were particularly successful at creating a presence in the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians were excellent traders and seafarers. They relied particularly on the production of cloth dyed Tyrian purple from the Murex mollusc. They also traded with gold, wine and cedar logs. Their navigational talent and the goods they traded allowed them to be extremely successful.
