---
title: Polis: The City-State of Ancient Greece
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-04-18
---
# Polis: The City-State of Ancient Greece
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
A polis (plural: *poleis*) was the typical structure of a community in the ancient [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) world. A polis consisted of an urban centre, often fortified and with a sacred centre built on a natural [acropolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/) or harbour, which controlled a surrounding territory (*chora*) of land. The term polis has, therefore, been translated as '[city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-state' as there was typically only one city and because an individual polis was independent from other poleis in terms of political, judicial, legal, religious and social institutions and practices, each polis was in effect a state. Like a state, each polis was also involved in international affairs, both with other *poleis* and non-Greek states in the areas of [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/), political alliances and wars. Other cultures had a similar social and political structure, notably, the Babylonians, [Etruscans](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/) and [Phoenicians](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/), and the latter are believed to be the originators of the polis as a communal unit.
The polis emerged from the Dark Ages which followed the fall of the [Mycenaean civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) in [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) and by the 8th century BCE a significant process of urbanisation had begun. There were eventually over 1,000 *poleis* in the Greek World but among the most important were [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/), [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/), [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/), [Thebes](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Thebes/), [Syracuse](https://www.worldhistory.org/syracuse/), [Aegina](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aegina/), [Rhodes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rhodes/), [Argos](https://www.worldhistory.org/argos/), Eretria, and Elis. The biggest was Sparta, although with some 8,500 km² of territory, this was exceptionally large and most *poleis* were small in size. However, *poleis* such as Athens, Rhodes and Syracuse possessed significant naval fleets which also allowed them to control wide areas of territory across the [Aegean](https://www.worldhistory.org/aegean/).
> It is all hilly and shaded, and has many springs...The city is well provided with public buildings, gymnasia, stoas, temples, theatres, pictures, statues, and an [agora](https://www.worldhistory.org/agora/) which is excellently situated for all trading purposes.
> 3rd century BCE description of the polis of Chalcis (Anonymous).
### Common Features
Although individual *poleis* each had their own particular identity and individual institutions and practices differed widely and even evolved over time, there were several features common to the majority. Most of the population of a polis lived in the city rather than being spread across small farm communities in the surrounding territory and the heart of the urban area was usually a sacred space with one or more temples. From the 8th century BCE these were almost always the most impressive buildings in the polis but sometimes they were separate from the urban area proper, perhaps to take advantage of more impressive natural locations or because those locations had a particular religious significance. From the 7th century BCE the city was usually fortified with a city [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/) (Sparta being a notable exception) and the agora space was created for civic and commercial activity. From the 5th century BCE many *poleis* displayed evidence of town planning (especially in newly established colonies) with specific areas of the city designated for private, public and religious functions. Many *poleis* also had a designated space for public assembly, either for political purposes or also for entertainment, for example, a [theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/) and a [gymnasium](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gymnasium/).
A fundamental idea common to most *poleis* was that all male citizens had (at least theoretically) equal political rights based on ownership of property. In practice, whatever the political system adopted - tyranny, oligarchy or democracy - political power was dominated by a few aristocratic families who held for themselves all the important positions in the polis such as membership of elite councils, magistracies and the higher military ranks. Also, within these citizen bodies there were richer and poorer citizens. Overtime, and especially following the introduction of money, the richer class, whose status had once been based on land ownership, began to accumulate wealth from investments and loans they made, in effect increasing the difference between rich and poor.
### A Unique Identity
Apart from male citizens the social groups which made up Greek society also included [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/), children, slaves, freed slaves, labourers and foreigners. These could make up as much as 90% of the total polis population and so had to be included and involved in the polis in one way or another if it was to function as a cohesive community. One way of doing this was to create a social identity which differentiated a polis from all others. This identity was achieved in various ways such as the creation of a communal space where people could mix and socialise (the agora). Another was the practising of polis-specific festivals and celebrations on specific dates in the year, usually of a religious nature, which also reinforced the idea that the polis had a unique (often mythical) founder and patron deity.
[  The Parthenon Andrew Griffith (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/943/the-parthenon/ "The Parthenon")Other more practical indicators of the polis as a separate unit were boundary markers, written [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/)-codes, [coinage](https://www.worldhistory.org/coinage/) using specific imagery related to the polis' history (e.g. the owl on Athenian coins representing [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/), the city's patron), wars - where soldiers fought a common enemy, often to settle disputed territorial claims, and the production of distinctive goods (e.g. Corinthian [pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/pottery/)). A common community history or 'civic memory' was reinforced and commemorated in public statues of local gods, leaders, benefactors and sporting champions. Finally, the polis founded colonies abroad, especially in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) and [Ionia](https://www.worldhistory.org/ionia/) and became a 'mother' city and provided both a symbolic transfer of identity (e.g. a fire from the city hearth) and a practical transfer of people and community skills (e.g. potters and [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/) workers).
### [Pan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pan/)-Hellenism
Although *poleis* were, then, each a unique cultural and political unit, the common features mentioned above and other factors such as language and broader religious beliefs meant that there were some feelings of connection between *poleis*. Like-minded *poleis* often made political alliances for mutual protection and examples include the Delian and Peloponnesian Leagues. A wider [Hellenic](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) attitude between *poleis* was manifested in two particular instances - wars against non-Greek enemies (e.g. the [Persian Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persian_Wars/) of the 5th century BCE) and pan-Hellenic festivals such as the [Olympic Games](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympic_Games/) held at [Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/) every four years. Many *poleis* participated in these events and sought to advertise their successes in them by erecting commemorative trophies and monuments at sites such as Olympia and [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/) where all Greeks would see them for centuries after.
In the late 4th century BCE [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) and his successors spread the idea of the polis throughout the Macedonian [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) in Asia, typically with re-settled Greeks acting as the ruling elite and the local population becoming subject farmers. In the [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) period the polis continued as a functioning unit but was subordinate to a wider imperial apparatus of Roman-defined provinces. *Poleis*, therefore, became less significant in terms of independent political power but continued to be significant as providers of civic pride based on fine public buildings and the cultivation of the arts and sciences.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Boys-Stones et al. *The Oxford Handbook of Hellenic Studies.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199286140/)
- [Burn A.R. *The Penguin History of Greece.* Penguin Books, 1966.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140137513/)
- [Hornblower S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/)
- [Kinzl K.H. (ed). *A Companion to the Classical Greek World.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1444334123/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 4000 BCE**: Founding of the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Sidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/sidon/).
- **c. 1100 BCE - c. 600 BCE**: [Iron Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Iron_Age/) Development, public buildings erected at the [Agora](https://www.worldhistory.org/agora/) in [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/).
- **c. 1025 BCE**: Migrants from [Ionia](https://www.worldhistory.org/ionia/) settle on [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/).
- **c. 900 BCE**: [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) is founded.
- **800 BCE - 500 BCE**: [Greek colonization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Colonization/) of the [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) and Black Sea.
- **c. 740 BCE**: Chalcis and Kyme found the colony of Cumae in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/).
- **c. 740 BCE - c. 433 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) or [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states establish colonies in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/).
- **c. 733 BCE**: Traditional date when [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/) founds a colony on [Corcyra](https://www.worldhistory.org/corcyra/).
- **733 BCE**: [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/) founds the colony of [Syracuse](https://www.worldhistory.org/syracuse/) in [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/).
- **c. 720 BCE**: Sybaris in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) founded by Archaean settlers.
- **c. 710 BCE**: Croton in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) founded by Archaean settlers.
- **706 BCE**: [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) founds the colony of [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/).
- **700 BCE - 600 BCE**: King Phiedon leads [Argos](https://www.worldhistory.org/argos/) to its greatest expansion.
- **631 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) colonists from the island of [Thera](https://www.worldhistory.org/thera/) found the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Cyrene](https://www.worldhistory.org/cyrene/) in North [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/).
- **546 BCE - 545 BCE**: Persian [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) of Ionian [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states.
- **c. 540 BCE**: Phocaea founds Elea in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/).
- **c. 501 BCE**: [Aegina](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aegina/)'s [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) is at its height.
- **c. 443 BCE**: Thurii in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) founded by Athenian settlers.
- **433 BCE**: [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) founds Heraclea in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/).
- **c. 408 BCE**: The various [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states of [Rhodes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rhodes/) form a single federal state.
- **371 BCE - 362 BCE**: [Thebes](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Thebes/) is the dominant [city-state](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) in [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/).
- **89 BCE**: All [poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) or [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) come under [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) control.
## Questions & Answers
### What does "Greek Polis" mean?
A Greek polis was a city-state. Greece was not a unified country in antiquity but a collection of independent city-states like Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes. Although the culture was the same, each city had its own government and army.
### Did other ancient cultures have a polis system?
Greece is the most famous culture in antiquity for having poleis or city-states but other cultures operated on this system of independent cities, notably the Babylonians, Etruscans and Phoenicians.
## External Links
- [Power & The Polis - Ancient Greek Society 02](https://ed.ted.com/on/96kiZ4S9)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2013, June 06). Polis: The City-State of Ancient Greece. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Polis: The City-State of Ancient Greece." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 06, 2013. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Polis: The City-State of Ancient Greece." *World History Encyclopedia*, 06 Jun 2013, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 06 June 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.