The history of the Phoenician people is an example of the effect of the geographical environment on the national character. Phoenicia is simply an extension of Central Syrian Coast running northward from the bay of Acre for less than 200 miles. To the west, is the Mediterranean, and to the east, is the great mountain range of Lebanon, the hills are never more than 10 miles from the sea, and sometimes they sink in it vertically. But, the tiny coastal plains, sheltered from the north wind, and watered by the mountain torrents, these are extremely fertile. The hills provide timber – the cedar of Lebanon – and pasturing ground, even wresting livelihood from the sea, and some very rich fisheries. From one species of shellfish, a strong purple dye is obtained, and was for centuries to find favour in the ancient world; for kings and nobles strove to be attired in the purple garments of Tyre. The beaches, gently sloping, though useless for modern shipping, were ideal harbours for the ancient conditions when the common practice was to drag the light ships to the shore. Lastly, the edge of the rocky mountains and the islands were sites for cities or strongholds that were impossible to be conquered by powers of olden times completely unless the enemy held control of the sea.
 
The Phoenicians spoke a Semitic language much like Hebrew. While various legends are told of their origin, there are many reasons to regard them a branch of the Syrian family or the Canaanite which chanced to settle on that coast and developed, independently, as a result of the surrounding natural environment. Mountains protected them largely from constant fighting and the tribal battles which kept the inland states in ferment. In their far-off cities, they were safe from everything save invasion on grand scale. On the other hand, Lebanon was not an impassable obstacle to peaceful commerce. On the other side, lay Damascus, from which Caravan routes came east to Babylon, and the ancient cities of Mesopotamia, and south to Palestine and Egypt, and north to Aleppo and the land of the Hittites. Over sea, the way was open to Cyprus and to the Greek Isles or along the coast of Palestine to the Nile Delta.

Thus, we have a reasonable security which enabled the little settlements to prosper and develop their industries, and also facilitate commercial intercourse which permitted its prosperity to go on beyond the limits of its coastal territory.