Depending on the time, it could be the Phoenicians ( I think this is the best answer; this is what they're known for best) or later in time, the Romans (but they had colonies also elsewhere).
At times, it was chaotic because it was so much land to control that the ruler split it into "states", and gave each one to a family member. But, after a while they realized some of the family had more land than others, so they began to fight. The bigger lands conquered the others with their stronger army.
