This can probably be explained by population growth brought on by reduced infant mortality, and aggravated by the practice of equally subdividing land amongst several inheritors each generation (attested to by both Homer and Hesiod).
Olukord on tõenäoliselt seletatav väikelaste suremuse vähenemisega ning seda raskendas veelgi komme jagada igas põlvkonnas maad võrdselt mitme pärija vahel (seda tunnistavad nii Homeros kui Hesiodos).