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traded in the Red Sea, and far south along the east coast of Africa, 
as well as on the coast of the Mediterranean, and passing through 
the straits of Gibraltar, came as far north as the coasts of Great 
Britain and Ireland. Rawlinson, writing on Pheenicia, says: “The 
commercial spirit of the Phoenicians was largely exemplified by the 
fact of their establishing colonies along the coasts of the Mediter- 
ranean, which were rapidly covered with settlements and cities 
where factories were established.” At this time Phcenicia had no 
serious commercial rival. The trade of the world was in her hands. 
Industry and enterprise reaped their usual harvest of success. The 
Pheenicians grew in wealth, and their towns became great and 
magnificent cities. Amongst them, and the most celebrated of 
them, were the cities of Carthage and Cadiz. Amongst the imports 
into Carthage were fine flax, sails and cables for ships, yarns and 
fine linens from Egypt, purple and scarlet ; tapestry and rich stuff 
from Tyre. These goods were used at home, or again exported 
to the western parts of the then known world, where they were 
exchanged for iron, tin, lead, copper, and other products of these 
lands. From the large importation of linen yarn, it may be inferred 
that the manufacture of linen was carried on to a large extent in 
this city. Carthage rose to be the chief centre of the trade of the 
world ; but the Carthaginians in the course of time, enervated by 
their luxurious habits, fell an easy prey to the Romans, 
The linen trade of ancient Greece and Rome is worthy of a 
passing notice. Neither country, however, was very favourable for 
an extensive trade in manufacturing industries. War was more 
congenial to the tastes of their petty tribes, than the industrial 
pursuits of trade and commerce. Greece being hilly, was more 
suited for the production of wool than flax. Colonies from 
Egypt and Pheenicia settling in Greece, however, gave an impetus 
to the linen manufacture. Spinning and weaving soon became 
distinct trades, carried on by separate classes of persons. Pliny 
states that, “amongst the finest and most elegant fabrics of Greece, 
were those manufactured in the city of Patrae,” where the women 
being twice as numerous as the men, would alone appear to have 
worked in the factories, and from which the greater number of the 
