Set the Scene:
Let’s start with some engaging questions to connect your everyday life to the subject of the Phoenicians. Please consider the following:
- Have you ever traveled to a new place and been fascinated by the local culture and history?
- Do you think trade and commerce have played a significant role in shaping the world we live in today?
- Can you think of any examples where language and innovation have had a lasting impact on society?
- How do you think the Phoenicians’ achievements, such as creating the first phonetic alphabet, have influenced modern communication?
- What do you know about the ancient Mediterranean world, and how do you think the Phoenicians fit into that history?
Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:
Look at the featured image and consider the following questions:
- What do you see in the image?
- What do you think this activity will be about based on this image?
- Do you notice any symbols, objects, or structures that seem significant or interesting?
Introduction:
Please read the introduction to the activity, which provides an overview of the Phoenicians and their significance in history.
Video Engagement:
Watch the video associated with the activity, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSCJokGTC38. Pause the video at the following points and consider the questions:
- Pause at 2:00 minutes: What do you think was the most significant factor in the Phoenicians’ success as traders and innovators? How do you think their achievements have impacted modern society?
- Pause at 5:00 minutes: How do you think the Phoenicians’ creation of the first phonetic alphabet has influenced language and communication? Can you think of any examples where this innovation has had a lasting impact?
- Pause at 8:00 minutes: What do you think was the outcome of the conflict between Carthage and Rome? How do you think this conflict has shaped the course of history?
For more information about the Phoenicians, visit the original post at https://maestrocursos.com.br/quizzed-esl-activities/the-phoenicians-the-forgotten-empire-that-built-the-world/.
Vocabulary Quiz:
Test your understanding of key vocabulary related to the Phoenicians by answering the following questions:
- Which word means ‘a system of symbols representing sounds in language’?
- A) Metallurgy
- B) Alphabet
- C) Navigation
- D) Commerce
- What was the significance of the purple dye extracted from the Murk snail to the Phoenicians?
- A) It was used for medicinal purposes
- B) It was a symbol of their naval power
- C) It was used to create a highly valued commodity
- D) It was used in their agricultural techniques
- Which of the following was NOT a contribution of the Phoenicians to trade and economy?
- A) Introduction of systems of weights and measures
- B) Minting of some of the earliest coins in the Mediterranean
- C) Development of the first phonetic alphabet
- D) Invention of the war elephant
- What was the outcome of the conflict between Carthage and Rome?
- A) Carthage emerged victorious and expanded its empire
- B) Rome and Carthage formed an alliance
- C) Carthage was defeated, and its general Hannibal was exiled
- D) The conflict ended with a treaty that established trade relations between the two
- What is the lasting legacy of the Phoenicians according to the text?
- A) Their military conquests and expansion of their empire
- B) Their language, trade, and innovations that have been absorbed into Western civilization
- C) Their architectural achievements and engineering feats
- D) Their artistic styles and cultural influences
Answer Key:
- B) Alphabet
- C) It was used to create a highly valued commodity
- D) Invention of the war elephant
- C) Carthage was defeated, and its general Hannibal was exiled
- B) Their language, trade, and innovations that have been absorbed into Western civilization
Grammar Focus:
The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment, or has a connection to the present. Consider the following examples:
- Their alphabet has evolved into nearly every Western alphabet.
- Their legacy can still be seen in modern maps, words, and currency.
Grammar Quiz:
Choose the correct answer for each question:
- By the time the Romans destroyed Carthage, the Phoenicians ____________________ their legacy in the Mediterranean world.
- A) had left
- B) have left
- C) had been leaving
- D) have been leaving
- The Phoenicians ____________________ a significant role in connecting the ancient Mediterranean world by the time they founded Carthage.
- A) played
- B) have played
- C) were playing
- D) had played
- By now, the Phoenician alphabet ____________________ into nearly every Western alphabet.
- A) has evolved
- B) evolves
- C) had evolved
- D) was evolving
- The Phoenicians ____________________ the world’s first phonetic alphabet, which used symbols to represent sounds.
- A) have created
- B) created
- C) had created
- D) were creating
- The legacy of the Phoenicians ____________________ in modern maps, words, and currency.
- A) can be seen
- B) could be seen
- C) has been seen
- D) was seen
Answer Key:
- D) have been leaving
- D) had played
- A) has evolved
- B) created
- A) can be seen