What other factors fuel the growth of sicily as a major trading center?

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It is one of the autonomous regions of Italy. The capital of Sicily is Palermo and the provinces are: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Syracuse and Trapani. The nearest region of Sicily is Calabria, 3 km east of the Strait of Messina.

For many centuries of its history, Sicily has been a rich region, disputed by many nations, mainly because of its important position on the Mediterranean trade routes. Cicero described Syracuse as "the largest and most beautiful city in all of ancient Greece." Archimedes, one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world, was a native Sicilian, born in the city of Syracuse.

2686-2181 bce-- "egyptian civilization developed along the nile river in large part because the river’s annual flooding ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops."

1069-664 bce-- "ancient egyptians developed wide-reaching trade networks along the nile, in the red sea, and in the near east."

france,russia and prussia had absolute monarchy and it meant:

when louis xiv inherited the throne, he was able to serve as his chief minister.louis xiv ruled as an absolute monarch.