The civilization which succeeded the Minoans as the most powerful Mediterranean trader were The Phoenicians. The Phoenicians were a people who occupied the coast of the Levant. Their name comes from the Greek ´´Phoinikes´´ which means ´´Tyrian Purple dye´´ since the major export of the region was, cloth dyed Tyrian purple, and what the Phoenicians actually called themselves is unknown. Their civilization spread across the Mediterranean and thrived as a maritime trader and manufacturing center from c. 1500-332 BCE and was highly regarded for their skill in ship-building, glass-making, the production of dyes, and an impressive level of skill in the manufacture of luxury and common goods.