Cornwall: Land of Blue Skies and Beaches

Introduction

• Location: Cornwall, picturesque corner of Britain
• Attributes: Known for its beaches, holiday homes, bird watching, and biking expeditions
• Cultural Heritage: Houses a different culture with unique language, traditions, and folklore rooted in Celtic rulers

Historical Context

• Comparison: More cultural ties with Brittany and Wales than England
• Geography: Rugged landscape with peaceful coves, rolling hills, wild moors, and ancient hedgerows
• Climate: Impacted by the warm Gulf Stream fostering unusual vegetation

Archaeological Significance

• Ancient Sites: Castles, hill forts, and stone circles
• Excavations: Tintagel Castle reveals early medieval trade links
• Pre-Roman Trade: Cornwall as a major commercial center in the North Atlantic post-Roman withdrawal

Prehistoric Cornwall

• Bronze Age: Landscape shaped by Bronze Age and earlier settlements
• Flora and Fauna: Home to unique vegetation and wild horses from the Eurasian steppe
• Structures: Ancient stone boundaries known as 'reeves'
• Settlements: Sites like Grimms Pound and remnants of ancient woodlands

Tin Trade and Cultural Links

• Phoenicians Influence: Merchants and traders from the Levant significant in the tin trade
• Trade Routes: Phoenician trade connecting Europe and the Mediterranean
• Bronze Making: Cornwall's tin used in constructing objects all over Europe
• Historical Record: Herodotus and other writers document Cornwall as “land of tin”

Conclusion

• Cultural Legacy: Cornwall retains a distinct identity tied to its ancient past
• Tourism and Heritage: Continues to be a popular destination thanks to its natural beauty and historical significance

Phoenicians and Ancient Trade

Introduction

• Importance: Known for their maritime prowess and establishing trade links
• Colonization: Founded many of the Mediterranean's oldest cities

Archaeological Discoveries

• Artifacts: Near-eastern ceramics, Canaanite writings
• Settlements: Evidence of settlements across Spain, Morocco, Malta, Sardinia, and Sicily

Phoenician Origins

• Canaanite Roots: Descendants of Canaanites, shared language and religion
• City-States: Not a unified kingdom, but a federation of cities like Biblos, Tyre, Sidon

Maritime Trade

• Commercial Hub: Linking Asia, North Africa, Europe
• Goods: Trade in cedar trees, metals, precious stones, spices
• Expansion: Setting up trading colonies across the Mediterranean

Major Colonies

• Carthage: Most famous Phoenician colony, later rivaled Rome
• Spain: Established trading centers like Cadiz
• Africa: Set up colonies in Tunisia, Cyprus

Cultural Influence

• Greek and Roman Texts: Writings by Herodotus, Pliny
• Alphabet: Spread of the Phoenician alphabet

Historical Impact

• Conquests and Decline: Subjugation by Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, and eventually Alexander the Great
• Legacy: Influences remain in modern maritime practices and trade systems