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The Phoenicians, a Semitic people who primarily inhabited Lebanon, made significant contributions to the development of Western civilization. They emerged in history around 1800 BC during the Bronze Age and occupied a narrow strip of coast, relying on seafarers and merchants to survive. Among their contributions to civilization was the development of a phonetic alphabet that was the precursor to the Greek alphabet and the modern Latin alphabet. They also pioneered new political systems that influenced other civilizations in the Middle East. The Phoenicians were known for their maritime trade network that lasted over a millennium, becoming the dominant commercial power for much of classical antiquity. Their trade also helped facilitate the exchange of cultures, ideas, and knowledge between major cradles of civilization such as Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Many European, North African, and Middle Eastern cities can trace themselves back to Phoenician origins.