The Phoenicians were among the greatest traders of their time and made most of the countries income off of trade. They mainly traded with the Greeks where cedar wood, glass, slaves and powdered purple dye was exchanged. As trade became more popular in the Mediterranean the Greeks and Phoenicians began competing for control of trade routes although no actual war broke out they was constant fighting for control. Eventually the Phoenicians decided that they could keep to the southern shore while the Greeks stuck to the northern shores. After 1200 BC the Phoenicians finally came the major power of the Mediterranean region with their invention of purple dye and discovery of the Murex snail. Phoenician glass works and pottery was also becoming popular bringing those from Asia and Egypt to the shores of Phoenicia. Hunting dogs were exchanged along with wine and a variety of metals.