The ancient civilization credited with developing the first alphabetical script is the Phoenicians. Lived around 1200 BC to 600 BC, the Phoenicians, a Semitic people, inhabited a region that is now Lebanon and parts of Syria and Israel. Their alphabet consisted of 22 letters representing consonant sounds, vastly simplifying writing compared to previous cuneiform and hieroglyphic systems. This innovation allowed for more accessible literacy and facilitated trade and communication across the Mediterranean. The Phoenician alphabet influenced the Greek alphabet and, subsequently, the Latin alphabet, which is the basis for many scripts used today.