The Late Bronze Age :: essays research papers

Trade and Phoenician Development in the Late Bronze Age forgetful is known about the Phoenician way of life other than the item that they were a society founded on trade with other, larger tribes. These people made use of their natural resources to ground trade with such(prenominal) nations as Egypt and Assyria. The geographical holes of the Phoenician city-states were also positive to their role as a trading state. Located on the eastmost coast of the Mediterranean, where Israel lies today, the Phoenicians were commensurate to trade with virtu every last(predicate)y all of the Mediterranean nations. Little else is known about their actual culture, other than what is written about them in other nations texts. In a text from the 7th century, the rules of trade are established, and appear to apply been independent of any local anesthetic rulers, traders acted on their own accord. Phoenicia became one of the greatest trading states in all of history, due to the fact that they possessed a large amount of worthful materials, a good location for trade, and an unsurpassed knowledge of the sea. It is through these advantages that Phoenicia was able to become such an influential state.Phoenicia was located in what is now current Israel, a very valuable plot of land even today. This was an needed resource for the Phoenicians, and without it there success as a trading nation would have been severely deterred. Being located on the Mediterranean, the Phoenicians had equal entranceway to both Egypt and Assyria, the two most influential nations in the region. In the text, it is clear stated that should a trader be stranded in some other nation they should be returned to their home, but their booty is free for the taking (Kuhrt, 407). This fact made trade easier, due to the idea that fear of capture was greatly reduced by the trade rules. Clearly, if Phoenicia had not been located where it was, their influence on trade would have been dramatically decreased. By making use of their location the Phoenicians capitalized on trade, and their wealth of resources contributed greatly to their role.Phoenicia was rich in natural resources such as timber and metal. Because of the demands made on them . . . the coastal cities appear to have concentrated their energy and resources on the production of luxury commodities such as ivory inlaid furniture for royal consumption (Kuhrt, 407). This fact produced a wealth of skilled craftsmen, who are still famous today for their creations.