The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-28
Origin Of Trade in Asia Three Thousand Years Before
the Dawn Of the Christian Era.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE IN The ORIENT
Crude Methods Employed in It's Conddct-The Caravan
and the Coast Trader-The Process of Linking
States Together The Exports of Ancient Greece
Cofinth and Her ConSdS at Mercantile Ports.

the travel of the merchantmen over
large areas of territory, explorations of
new localities were constant, and the
enlargement Of knowledge was ever
taking place. Social life became pos
sessed Of more attractions, and 1t was
the beginning of a system Of general
education pursued throughout the ages
to the present time. New tastes were
constantly being developed, and new
commodities were brought forth to sup
ply the demand therefor.
In the matter of detail much obscur-
ity prevails bearing directly upon the
trading Of the earlier ages, other than
the knowledge supplied by the Bible.
Expert students, therefore, on this sub
ject make no attempt to penetrate his
torically beyond 1900 B. G. At that
date China and Japan were active con-
tributors to the world as then exist
ing; and now, $500 years later, with
commerce having made the circuit of
the globe, these ancient countries of
the Orient, with their tremendous pop
ulation, are beckon1ng from the East
to all productive nations, and espe
cially to the western shores of our own
new country, for a supply so enormous
In its proportions that all the great ma
tions of Europe have, f1guratively
speaking, their hands upon each others
throats in their struggle for share
in the distribution Of this trade.
TYRE AND SIDON.
The Phoenicians are entitled to
the credit historically Of hav-
ing taken first rank In COM
mercial activity and Importance on
both land and sea- These were prac-
tically Canaanites, who had been sub
jugated by the Hebrews, and, driven at
last to the western shore of Judea, they
were granted a resting place or foot
hold on the slopes of the Mediterranean.
Out Of these adverse conditions the
trading instinct more and more devel-
oped, until the famed cities Of Tyre and
Sidon sprang into existence.
1t was in connection with these
points that maritime trade first ap-
pears In the history of commerce. Their
people were adventurous and familiar
with the sea, and coasting trade with
other parts of Asia was developed In
great proportions. This was conduct
cd by means of barks, rowed by strong
men and hugging the shores closely
Their field Of enterprise consisted large
ly Of the Arabian and Indian seas and
their coasts. They, also, secured rights
for the navigation OF the Nile. In their
trade operations they were the means
of bringing nearly all points OF the
Oriental countries into communication
with one another. City after city
sprang into existence, and for q pc
riod there was little or no indulgence
In actual warfare, the inclinattons of
all being towards peaceful contest and
colonization IN different sections to Sc
cure larger consumption Of products.
But later the war spirit took hold of
the ancients, and the famous city Of
Sidon was ruined by Nebuchad adneszar.
The city of Tyre yielded later to the
forces of Alexander the Great, and
their ruins are today nothing more
than the humble homes of petty fisher
men. From 1900 B. G. to 300 B. @. Phoe-
| nicia maintained an almost undisturb-
| ed pre-eminence Her trade had ex-
tended so far west as Spain and north
ward to the Baltic. In fact, It reached
the limits of the then known world,
! and many of the principal ports of
| Western Europe of today had their
| origin IN the scheme OF colonization
conducted by the Phoenicians.
RISE AND FALL OF CARTHAGE.
Out of the spirit of political discon-
tent. emigration by the Phoenicians
| came to be almost enforced. Carthage.
on the north coast of Africa and in
the bay Of Tunis, was one Of the col
onies thus established near the middle
of the ninth century B. c., and from
that date to the beginning of the
Christian era it was a dominant CEN
ter of trade.
This center, more than any other,
| developed the earliest evidences of the
extreme mercenary spirit associated
| with Phoenician trade. Here. too. the
blight Of negro slavery spread itself
and, in large measure, assisted in the
final destruction and downfall of the
community. The lands cultivated by
the Carthagenians were fertile and well
adapted for the employment of this de-
grading servitude. But the arts and
manufactures received great stimula-
tiou by the intelligence and talents OF
this people. They were q skilIful folk
and did more than any other ancient
nation to extend the boundaries OF
Phoenician influence beyond the Med
that credit is due for the introduction
of the system OF exchange now so in
dispensable IN commercial nations the
world over. They also advanced money
on vessels, which did much to enlarge
the fleets Of those days and to more
completely distribute the products. The
Carthagenians were Jealous of their
credit; but their grasping tendencies al
last had the effect Of undermining the
whole fabric of their system, and this
end was assisted by the persistence
with which they extracted all their Ia
Dor In their vineyards. their olive gar
dens and in the care Of their herds
from the negro slave. Rome at las,
overthrew this community; the old
Carthage, with all its greatness. de-
parted, and no ingenuity has been dis
covered capable of resurrecting its an
cient spirit Of activity.
BABYLON AND NINEvEH.
Assyria, with her famous capitals OF
Nineveh and Babylon. became, In the
progress OF time. the great rival OF
Phoenicia. Babylonia comprised q
great alluvial district on either side OF
the river Euphrates and had a con.
fiuence with the Tigris. 1t was a re-
gion practically rainless; but under q
skilfully applied system of irrigation
! the fertility OF the soil was marvellous