Final answer:
Geographic features played a critical role in the settlement and trading practices of the Phoenicians and Greeks by providing strategic locations for access to Mediterranean trade routes, leading to widespread connections with various cultures. Hence, the correct answer is option (C).
Step-by-step explanation:
Geographic features significantly influenced the diffusion and settlement of the Phoenician and Greek traders mainly by facilitating easy access to trade routes and connecting them with distant cultures. The location of Phoenician and Greek settlements along the Mediterranean coasts offered the perfect launching points for maritime trade and the establishment of colonies. For instance, the Phoenicians, known for their seafaring prowess, built their most prominent city, Carthage, in a strategic position that helped control trade in the western Mediterranean.
Similarly, the Greeks established colonies close to the sea, which became commercial hubs for trade extending from Western Europe to the Middle East.
The option that best describes how geographic features influenced the diffusion and settlement of both the Phoenicians and Greeks is C: By facilitating easy access to trade routes and connecting them with distant cultures.