Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: The reason for this is , unlike the rest of the area , PiauÃ was first colonised inland and slowly expanded towards the ocean , rather than the other way around .
Simplified: The reason for this is because , unlike the rest of the area , PiauÃ state was first colonised away from the coast and slowly expanded towards the ocean .