Final answer:
The small states of Phoenicia and Israel developed due to the decline of the Late Bronze Age world and the successive Iron Age empires in western Asia. The Phoenicians continued to prosper during this period, contributing to trade and cultural developments across the Mediterranean.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small states of Phoenicia and Israel developed due to the decline of the Late Bronze Age world and the successive Iron Age empires in western Asia, such as the Assyrians and the Chaldeans. During the period of disruption and collapse in the eastern Mediterranean region, the Phoenicians continued to prosper, especially through their skills as artists and sailors. The decline of the Late Bronze Age world also coincided with the development of new technology, such as iron tools, and the Phoenicians played a significant role in the expansion of trade and the development of new cultures across the Mediterranean.