According to a quite widespread theory, the primary cause of Archaic colonization is the search of land, that is the search of fertile cultivable tracts of land. This opinion is based mainly on the choice to found colonies in the regions of Pontus and the Black Sea.

Most of the colonies and the majority of colonists lived mainly by agriculture. That is why the motive of the majority among those who participated in this activity, was to obtain land for cultivation, something that mother-cities did not offer. In certain colonies, the first inhabitants were called gamoroi, meaning those who shared the land, as for example in Syracuse. Another example concerns the inhabitants of Chios, who in the 7th century BC sailed north to the Thracian coasts and founded Maroneia in the region of Ismarus river, a region which was already known for its fertile cultivable land and its wine. Also, Metapontum, a colony of Achaea in South Italy, had adopted the symbol of wheat for its coin, thus showing how significant were fertile lands of grain for the city.

Furthermore, during the last years an emphasis has been given to the importance of metals for the development of Greek cities and the colonies' geographical position is studied in connection to any metal resources -precious or not- existed near them. For example, the selection of colonies on the Black Sea is related to the rich in metal reserves regions of Northern Asia Minor, Armenia and Caucasus (Herodotus, Historia 4.86).