Second Greek colonisation

The Second Greek colonisation was an organized colonial expansion by the Archaic Greeks into the Mediterranean Sea and Pontus in the period of the 8th–6th centuries B.C. This colonisation differed from the First Greek colonisation in that it consisted of organized direction by the originating metropolis instead of the simple movement of tribes which characterized the first colonisation. Many colonies that were founded in this period evolved into strong city-states and became independent of their metropoles.

The reason for the second colonisation had to do with the demographic explosion of this period, the development of the emporium, the need for a secure supply of raw materials, but also with the emerging politics of the period which drove sections of the population into exile. The increase in population created a scarcity of farms and a restriction of the ability of smallholders to farm them, which was similar in every city-state, something which strengthened in places with surplus population the desire for other regions in which to reside. The location of the establishment was dictated by the supply of unexploited resources which would provision the metropolis, as well as the finished goods it would produce. The development of the emporium was among the more important motivations for the founding of a colony. Their colonies would create new markets, would supply the metropoles with significant raw materials and would constitute important way stations on the long-distance trade journeys of the era. Finally the troubled political situation in many cities, along with the establishment of tyrannical government drove the political opposition into exile aind into a search for new places of residence.

The founding of the colonies was consistently an organized enterprise. The launch was organized by the metropolis, although in many cases they collaborated with other cities. The place to be colonized was selected in advance with the goal of offering business advantages, but also security from raiders. In order to create a feeling of security and confidence in relation to the new colony, the choice of place was decided according to its usefulness. The mission always included a leader nominated by the colonists. In the new cities, the colonists parcelled out the land, including farms. The system of governance usually took a form reminiscent of that which prevailed in the metropolis.

...
Wikipedia