Evolution of Urbanism and Trade in the Mediterranean, 500 BC

By 500 BC, the Mediterranean region had transformed significantly, becoming densely populated with urban landscapes and a considerable increase in the number of people living in cities. The growth of cities in the Mediterranean had become a defining feature, characterized by monumental temples, towering walls, and bustling ports. The Mediterranean was divided into four zones, primarily based on human and natural geography, where the majority of trade within each zone occurred locally. The most important port cities were situated at the intersection of these zones. The western zone, dominated by the Phoenicians, extended from the Atlantic coasts to North Africa, with cities like Gadier being major hubs for trade and commerce. These areas saw a blending of cultures, with Phoenician, Celtic, and indigenous populations coexisting and influencing each other. The assimilation and alteration of societies by immigrants had become common across the Mediterranean, with Greeks also establishing colonies in the region by 500 BC.