The ancient civilization known for establishing one of the first alphabets around 1000 BCE is the Phoenicians. Residing in the coastal regions of present-day Lebanon and Syria, the Phoenicians developed a writing system based on 22 characters that represented sounds, making it one of the earliest alphabetic scripts. This innovation significantly influenced subsequent writing systems, including Greek and Latin alphabets. The Phoenician alphabet was simpler than earlier writing forms, facilitating literacy and communication. As skilled traders and seafarers, the Phoenicians spread their alphabet and cultural influences throughout the Mediterranean, leaving a lasting legacy that shaped the development of written language.