emergence of city-states. by the time homer’s epics were composed each greek community had begun...
DESCRIPTION
The Polis A polis was a community with its own government – Governed the city as well as the surrounding villages and countryside Each polis had an agora or a marketplace and a government center Population was generally smallTRANSCRIPT
Emergence of City-States
• By the time Homer’s epics were composed each Greek community had begun to organize itself into a polis
• Polis= city state
The Polis
• A polis was a community with its own government– Governed the city as well as the surrounding
villages and countryside • Each polis had an agora or a marketplace and
a government center• Population was generally small
The High City
• A typical polis was usually built on two levels • Acropolis= meaning “high city” was built on a
high hill – Public buildings and temples– It also served as a fortress
• On lower ground were people’s homes, shops and farms
Politics in the Polis • Each city-state had a different form of government • In the early times the polis was governed by an
aristocracy • But in time the citizens began governing
themselves– In most of the world priests and kings held all political
power • Unfortunately not everyone was considered a
citizen of the city-state the lived in – Women, foreigners, and slaves could not participate in
government
Pride in the Polis
• Citizens felt strong pride and loyalty towards their polis – Greeks believed that a good citizen should always
be willing to sacrifice for his city • “The polis was the frame work of Greek life” – If a polis was successful citizens consider
themselves a success as well