How does the writing of the Phoenicians differ from the writing of other ancient peoples?

The writing of the Phoenicians was the first alphabetical writing in history. Prior to this, pictographic and hieroglphic writing was used (for example, in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia). Phoenician writing was also the basis for most modern writing systems (Cyrillic, Latin, Greek). Other alphabetic writing systems (for example, Persian) did not take root and gradually disappeared.