Archaeologists have uncovered pottery and fortifications in southern Canaan dating to 3200 BC. These artifacts mark the earliest known Egyptian settlements outside of Egypt proper.
Tyrian settlers founded Kart-Hadasht, or New Town, between 814 and 813 BC. This city became Carthage, the most famous of their colonial ventures.
Ancient Greek colonists created two distinct types of settlements across the Mediterranean. The apoikía were independent city-states founded by groups leaving their homeland while emporia served as trading posts where merchants retained domicile rights in their home cities.
From the time of the Gracchi, colonies lost their military character. Sulla later adopted colonization to grant land to veteran soldiers and Emperors during the Principate used it mainly for establishing military settlements in provinces.
Emperor Wu of Han sent settlers to the Hexi Corridor and Ordos Plateau after defeating Hunye in 121 BC. Tuntian agricultural military garrisons secured massive territorial gains and Silk Road trade routes.