Phenicia was formed by a set of autonomous city-states. Each city had an independent government, exercised by members of the aristocratic class, composed of wealthy merchants, shipowners and artisans. Generally speaking, the head of government was a king, whose function was transmitted by heredity. But the king's authority was not absolute. He exercised it in harmony with the aristocratic elite from which came the members of a council of elders and magistrates, known as suffets.
Often, Phoenician cities went to war, vying with each other for new markets for their products. Some of these cities paid tribute to foreign peoples, to receive, in return, security and tranquility against their rivals in commerce.
No Phoenician city was powerful enough to completely impose domination over the others. However, we can identify, in different periods, cities that are more important than others.
Since the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, Byblos stood out for its busy commercial port, having established trade relations with Cyprus, Egypt and Crete. Around the middle of the 2nd millennium BC, Sidon gained great maritime and commercial prestige, becoming famous for the export of purple fabrics, perfumes, jewelry and vases. Finally, from the 10th to the 8th century BC, Tire achieved the economic preponderance of Phoenicia, trading with several locations in the Mediterranean. The city of Tire was responsible for the foundation of the important colony of Carthage, in North Africa.
In most Phoenician cities the social position of individuals was directly linked to their economic condition and the role they played. The ruling class was made up of entrepreneurs (maritime traders, owners of handicraft workshops, slave traders) and officials and priests in the service of royal power. Then came a class made up of free workers (craftsmen, fishermen, peasants, sailors) and small business owners. The most oppressed social portion was made up of domestic slaves and poor sailors.
In the 8th century BC, Phoenician cities were subjugated by the Assyrians. In 586 BC, they were conquered by the new Babylonians, with the exception of the city of Tyre. It was not until 332 BC that Alexander the Great of Macedonia fully conquered Phenicia.
The social organization
As commerce was the most important economic activity, Phoenician society was divided according to wealth. See the chart below.
Priests, officials, and merchants controlled the administration of city-states and foreign trade. Free workers were small traders, artisans, sailors, fishermen and peasants. Slaves were few in number, being used in domestic services.
Phoenician Civilization
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