Colonies in antiquity were city-states founded from a mother-city (its "metropolis"), not from a territory-at-large. Bonds between a colony and its metropolis remained often close, and took specific forms. However, unlike in the period of colonialism during the early and late modern era, ancient colonies were usually sovereign and self-governing from their inception. Most ancient colonization occurred around the Sea of Majatra and adjacent territories, and Selucian, Kalopian and Qedarite city-states were most active in colonization.