The Greeks and Phoenicians began to trade and tried to modify the local economy to suit their purposes. Various luxury products for the indigenous aristocracies arrived by sea and made their way inland. In exchange, the colonisers collected raw materials. The cultural influx was considerable. New religious customs, the alphabet, iron-working techniques, the potter's wheel and new crops were introduced. The Greek and Phoenician towns that grew up along the maritime trade routes became the main driving forces of culture.