The pre-colonial period

Carbonia, fortificazioni fenicie di nuraghe Sirai. Foto da Sardegna DigitalLibrary

The first signs of the Phoenician presence in Sardinia can be framed chronologically starting from the 12th century BC to at least the first half of the 8th century BC and are relevant to the so-called “pre-colonial” phase. This term is intended to refer to the creation by the Phoenicians of settlements classified in specialized literature with the term “emporiums”.
These are small and not necessarily permanent inhabited centers, created to perform a dual function: on the one hand, to establish, encourage and regulate commercial relations with local populations; on the other, to offer Phoenician sailors important and valuable support for the possible needs related to navigation (the need to park or shelter ships due to adverse weather conditions) and to remedy the possible damage to which ships must inevitably be subject ).
Contrary to what has long been believed and maintained, the nature of these first contacts between Phoenicians and island people was essentially peaceful.
Indeed, it is precisely because of the non-confrontational nature of these relations that the Phoenician presence in Sardinia was able to consolidate to create the necessary and sufficient conditions for the birth of the first real cities, such as Karaly (Cagliari), Sulky (Sant'Antioco), Nora (Pula).
With the birth of the first urban centers, in the proper sense, we entered a new phase of Phoenician history in Sardinia: the colonial phase.

Update

23/7/2025 - 16:47