Phoenician Trade with the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas

The ancient Phoenicians, master mariners and traders based in modern-day Lebanon, established extensive commercial networks across the Mediterranean. Two key peninsular regions were central to their trade:

• The Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal): Rich in silver, copper, tin, and agricultural products.
• The Italian Peninsula: A source of metals, pottery, and later a market for Eastern luxury goods.

Phoenician colonies like Gadir (Cádiz) in Iberia and trade emporia in Sicily and Sardinia facilitated the exchange of raw materials, manufactured goods, and cultural ideas between the Levant and the western Mediterranean.