Page "History of Sardinia" Paragraph 22

From the 8th century BC, Phoenicians founded several cities and strongholds on south west of Sardinia ; Tharros, Bithia, Sulcis, Nora and Karalis ( Cagliari ).

The Phoenicians came originally from what is now Lebanon and founded a vast trading network in the Mediterranean.

They settled along the south western coasts.

Sardinia had a special position because it was central in the Western Mediterranean between Carthage, Spain, the Rhone river and the Etruscan civilization area.

The mining area around Iglesias was important for the metals lead and zinc.

The cities were founded on strategic points, often peninsulas or islands near estuaries, easy to defend and natural harbours.

After the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians took over control in that part of the Mediterranean, around 550 BC.

They expanded their influence to the eastern and southern coast from Bosa to Karalis, consolidating a large number of Phoenician colonies all over the western Mediterranean under one empire for the first time.

The cities were administered by plenipotentiaries called Sufetes, which stressed the growing of grain and cereals.