How did the Phoenicians differ from the inhabitants of western Asia?

The Phoenicians occupied a narrow land area along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. These were lands with dense forests. Access to the sea and the presence of large forest resources turned Phenicia into a maritime state. They built ships, were engaged in sea trade and navigation.
At the same time, the inhabitants of ancient Mesopotamia were mainly engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding, since the land on which they lived was quite fertile.