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====Phoenicians: first democratsEarly for of democracy?====As was the case with other urban and mercantile societies , Phoenicia developed sophisticated political systems. The governments of these These city-states was initially organized these governments around kings, the priesthood , and a council of elders. These increasingly became oligarchic in nature over time. The Phoenicians were among the first to develop political institutions other than that of the monarchy in the Levant. There are those who Some claim that they introduced a limited form of democracy, centuries before the Greeks.  There is evidence that during religious festivities that citizens of cities such as Sidon would vote for candidates for the assembly. These People transmitted these democratic practices were transmitted to outposts , such as Carthage. We can have a better understanding of the nature of Punic institutions by studying the constitution of Carthage. It was an oligarchical republic where citizens could elect two presidents called Suffetes. It even had a popular assembly and trade unions.  The Phoenician’s political system is deemed to have been very influential was instrumental in the development of governments in the Classical period. There are those who claim that Greek city-states such as Athens were influenced by the The governments of cities such as Sidon and Tyreinfluenced the Greek city-states such as Athens. It is also possible that they also introduced democratic institutions and practices to the Etruscans who later transmitted them to the Romans .<ref>Stockwell, Stephen. "Before Athens: Early popular government in Phoenicia and Greek city-states." In The Secret History of Democracy, pp. 35-48. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2011</ref>.