The Canaanites were an ancient Semitic people who inhabited the land of Canaan, which is now modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. They were not Arabs, but were closely related to the Phoenicians and Hebrews. The Canaanites spoke a Canaanite language, which was closely related to Hebrew, Phoenician, and Aramaic. They were a polytheistic people, and their religion was centered around the worship of a pantheon of gods and goddesses. The Canaanites were also known for their advanced civilization, which included the development of writing, agriculture, and trade. They were eventually conquered by the Israelites in the 13th century BCE.