The Phoenician island City Kingdom of Tyre grew into a strong and prosperous maritime kingdom as early as the second millennium BCE. Its ships brought raw materials from all the known world, and with the help of its craftsmen and industries changed these materials into useful items and sold them back into the same markets of origin. Phoenician ships reached the far corners of earth and succeeded in peacefully establishing colonies and trade posts every land they set foot. Some of those trade posts developed into capitals of new Phoenician realms. The mercantile kingdom hoarded great treasures of wealth within its walls. The Tyrians also built a strong fleet to guard their city and its treasures.
Many conquerors hoped to lay a hand on the wealth of Tyre or to get rid of its sea power. Thus, Tyre was invaded many times in its history. Most often it came out victorious over the strongest of invaders, but Alexander, after a very long siege, conquered Tyre. With that mischievous event, Tyre lost its greatness and its individuality to suffer more along the centuries that followed, but like the Phoenix it rose from the ashes to take a lead in the area. (This book is targeted to readers of Arabic only.)
