[TOEFL writing] May 10, 2024 (3)

The article and the lecture are about whether or not the Phoenicians circumnavigated Afica.

 

While the author of the reading argues that the Phoenicians could not have undertaken such a voyage, the lecturer believes that they were capable of completing this journey.

While the author of the reading argues that the phoenicians could not have undertaken such a voyage, the lecturer believes that they were capable of completing this journey.

 

First, the author argues that the Phoenician ships were small and made of wood, and lacked navigational equipment.

 

The article states that they would not have been able to withstand the powerful currents and storms of the open ocean.

 

However, the lecturer's counterargument is that the Phoenician ships were surprisingly sturdy and well-equipped for long voyages.

 

Their wooden hulls were reinforced with metal plates that made them extremely durable, and Phoenician sailors were skilled in repairing and maintaining their ships while at sea.

Their wooden hulls were reinforced with metal plates that made them extremely durable, and Phoenician sailors were skilled in repairing and maintaining their ships while at sea.

 

Secondly, the author argues that the Cape of Good Hope, located at the southern tip of Africa, is well-known for its strong currents and unpredictable weather, making it a challenging region for navigation.

 

In contrast, the lecturer argues that the Poenicians were skilled navigators who were able to use the stars and other natural landmarks to navigate the open ocean.

In contrast, the lecturer argues that the Phoenicians were skilled navigators who were able to use the stars and other natural landmarks to navigate the open ocean.

 

Additionally, since the Phoenicians set up trading posts along the West African coast, they could have learned about the local geography and currents from residents.

Additionally, since the Poenicians set up trading posts along the West African coast they could have learned about the local geography and currents from residents.

 

Finally, the article notes that there are no surviving records or artifacts that clearly prove that Poenicians ever attempted to circumnavigate Africa.

 

However, the lecturer points to indirect historical records like ancient Egyptian drawings that seem to depict Phoenician ships passing along the coast of North Africa.

 

He also mentions texts by ancient Greek historians that refer to Phoenician sailors completing a voyage around the continent.