Wood cut in Lebanon was readily floated down the many streams to the shore, and then conveyed by sea to the ports.

A narrow and scanty land made commerce almost a necessity.

Here accordingly the first great maritime nation of antiquity grew up.

The Phoenician fleets explored the Mediterranean at a time anterior to Homer, and conveyed to the Greeks and the other inhabitants of Europe, and of Northern and Western Africa, the wares of Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt.

Industry and enterprise reaped their usual harvest of success; the Phoenicians grew in wealth, and their towns became great and magnificent cities.