Phoenicians were merchants, traders, and colonizers. They traded wood, cloth, dyes, embroideries, wine, and decorative objects. They most likely arrived from the Persian Gulf about 3,000 B.C. The Phoenicians were known as purple people and were known for their mighty ships adorned with horses. Their alphabet is the basis for most western languages. The Phoenicians have been called ancient middlemen. The work of the Phoenician goldsmiths were well known. They made almost no pictures of themselves and gave the kings gifts of gold, copper, silver, and tin. Their city still exists today in Modern Lebanon. All things considered, The Phoenicians were a very important part of Ancient Mesopotamia.