The Phoenician Commercial Centers in the West Mediterranean Sea Before the Establishment of Cartage

Abstract

The Phoenicians were the first maritimenation in history. They established the commercial stations that became commercial centers and finally Phoenician settlements where they permanently settled. Because the native Phoenician country is located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it was believed that the Phoenician Trade was restricted to the eastern part of thissea, and the Phoenicians did not reach the west of the Mediterranean Sea until Cartage was established around 814 B.C.

Nevertheless, the literary and archeological reports indicate that the Phoenician  presencein the  west Mediterranean Sea since the early period of their history,might date back to the twelfth century B.C. At that time, they were searching for regions rich in mineral and agricultural resources as well as for new markets for their products.Theydiscovered  the straits of Jabil Taariq  (Hercules Pillars) and established temporary commercial stations on the north and south coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and on itsdifferent islands. With the passage of time, such stations became permanent commercial centers and gradually Phoenician settlements to which the Phoenicians migrated and settled down for good. The most important settlements are: Panormus, soils andMotya  in Sicily, other stations in Sardinia in addition to Kades in Spain, Leksus in the far west and Utica on the Tunisian coast.

All these settlements witnessed great trade prosperity. Thus, the Phoenicians had become the masters of the Mediterranean sea, East and West, long time before the establishment of Cartage which superseded all the Phoenician cities in the west Mediterranean.