世界小史 第53期:腓尼基人

 The wild tribes¹ living there brought them furs and precious stones in exchange for tools, cooking pots and colored cloth.

商人们用他们带来的毛皮和宝石从居住在那里的未开化的部族换取工具、蒸煮锅和花布。

For Phoenician craftsmanship² was known throughout the world,

因为腓尼基人是世界著名的手工业者，

indeed,their artisans had even helped in the construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

并且也曾为建造耶路撒冷的所罗门神庙出过力。

Most popular of all their goods was their dyed cloth, especially the purple, which they sold throughout the world.

他们运往世界各地的最著名和受欢迎的商品却是他们的染布，特别是紫色的。

Many Phoenicians stayed in their trading posts on foreign shores and built towns.

许多腓尼基人留在他们在外国海岸的商行并在那里建立城镇。

Everywhere they went they were welcomed, in Africa, Spain and in southern Italy, on account of the beautiful things they brought.

在非洲，在西班牙和南意大利，人们到处都欢迎腓尼基人，因为他们带来美好的东西。

Nor did they ever feel cut off from home,

他们离家乡也不再十分遥远，

because they could write letters to their friends in Tyre and Sidon,

因为他们可以给他们的泰尔或西顿的朋友写信。

using the wonderfully simple script they had invented, which we still use today.

用他们发明的极简单的文字写信，我们今天还在用这样的文字书写。

It's true! Take this 'B', for example:

这是真的！如果你在这里见到一个B,

it is almost identical to the one used by the ancient Phoenicians, 3,000 years ago,

那么这跟古代腓尼基人在3000年前从异国海岸给家里，

when they wrote home from distant shores, sending news to their families in those noisy, bustling³ harbor towns.

即向他们的家乡——人口密集、市面繁华的港口城市写信时用的那个B只有极微小的差别。

Now you know this, you'll be sure not to forget the Phoenicians.

既然你知道了这一情况，你一定再也不会忘记腓尼基人了。

1 tribes   

n.部落( tribe的名词复数 )；（动、植物的）族；（一）帮；大群

参考例句：

• tribes living in remote areas of the Amazonian rainforest 居住在亚马孙河雨林偏远地区的部落
• In Africa the snake is still sacred with many tribes. 非洲许多部落仍认为蛇是不可冒犯的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 craftsmanship   

n.手艺

参考例句：

• The whole house is a monument to her craftsmanship. 那整座房子是她技艺的一座丰碑。
• We admired the superb craftsmanship of the furniture. 我们很欣赏这个家具的一流工艺。

3 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。