How did Phoenician geography influence their political structure

Phoenicia evolved in the Levant as independent city-states whichdeveloped their own agricultural and commercial framework. Thecity-states were located around the coastline and rivers andprospered or otherwise according to their assets and governance. Asindependent entities, their governments were responsible to thecitizens to produce security and prosperity, so each governmetacted to ensure its ongoing acceptance by its people. This provideda unity of purpose which made the cities stable and cooperative,and avoided the stark divisions between rulers and pople, eachdependent on the other to achieve success, stability andprosperity.