During the second millennium bc, the became seafaring merchants whose ships linked settlements throughout the mediterranean region. influences and ideas were absorbed from other areas, such as cuneiform from mesopotamia in the west and egyptian hieroglyphics and scripts from the south.

president thomas jefferson hoped that the embargo act of 1807 would the united states by demonstrating to britain and france their dependence on american goods, convincing them to respect american neutrality and stop impressing american seamen. instead, the act had a devastating effect on american trade.