The ancient Corinthians suffered from acute wanderlusting. Eager to maximize profit from trade, they founded numerous colonies in western Greece throughout the 7th century BCE. Ambracia began as a small trading station on the shores of the Arachthos river, where many routes to and from Italy and Epirus converged. Gradually it became the most important city-state in the region, full of treasures that the Romans took with them, when the city surrendered to them in 189 BCE. The Ambraciots demanded that the Roman Senate restores the loot. The foundation by Augustus of Nicopolis dealt a mortal blow to Ambracia, since all its residents were forcibly relocated to the new city.