Phoenician city-states

Phoenician city-states were independent, coastal trading hubs located in the ancient Levant (modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel). Each city, such as Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos, had its own government, but shared cultural and maritime traditions. They thrived from around 1500 to 300 BCE by dominating Mediterranean trade, exporting luxury goods like purple dye, glass, and cedar timber. Their advanced seafaring skills allowed for widespread trade networks, spreading their influence across the Mediterranean and beyond. Although politically independent, they often allied or competed with each other, playing a significant role in ancient commerce and cultural exchange.