Introduction

The word “polis” comes from the ancient Greek word for a city-state. The word politics also comes from this Greek word, which means “order” or “civilization.” The ancient Greeks formed cities called poleis during the Archaic and Classical periods of their history. A polis was a group of people living together under one government, but it wasn’t like an empire because they didn’t have one ruler. Instead, they had leaders elected by their citizens to run their government as well as other powerful figures called archons who ruled over certain aspects like justice or education while still sharing power with each other within the polis itself.

The polis (plural, poleis—also known as a city-state) was the ancient Greek city-state.

The polis (plural, poleis—also known as a city-state) was the ancient Greek city-state. It was organized around the people who lived in it, but it also had an internal hierarchy. The citizens were divided into different classes and roles based on their wealth and power.

The purpose of this study is to discuss how these early Greek communities formed themselves into cities with laws and governments that protected their citizens from harm or danger.

The word politics comes from this Greek word.

The word politics comes from this Greek word.

The term “politics” has a long history of use in English and other languages, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that the modern sense of “government or rule by law” became established. Before then, political life was often described using other terms like “city-states,” which refers to any independent city-state within an empire (for example Athens).

In the ancient world, the polis was a nucleus, the central urban area that could also have controlled the surrounding countryside.

In the ancient world, the polis was a nucleus, the central urban area that could also have controlled the surrounding countryside. The polis was also a center of political, economic and cultural activity. The city-state had its own laws, which were administered by a council of citizens elected by lot from among their number (a significant departure from ancient Athens in which only those with property qualifications could vote).

The Greek city-states were each ruled by a king or tyrant who owed his position to being chosen by lot—but there were limits on what he could do once he had been elected; these limits varied depending on where they lived: Sparta was ruled by an absolute monarchy but Athens was subject to checks and balances established during its democratic period (when kingship was replaced with rule by assembly).

Political power resided not just at state level but also within them themselves; this meant that many people had access to public office through various guilds such as those representing artisans or farmers who worked land owned directly by cities rather than individuals themselves.

The elite ruled from atop a large hill or acropolis.

The acropolis is the site of the ancient city’s main temple and other buildings dedicated to its chief god or goddess. It was also where the elite lived, since it had a commanding view over surrounding areas, allowing them to watch for enemies coming up from below.

In addition to serving as a place for worship and government, many polis temples were used as civic centers where citizens could gather together and discuss political issues.

The acropolis was the site of temples and other buildings dedicated to the chief god or goddess of the polis.

The acropolis was the site of temples and other buildings dedicated to the chief god or goddess of the polis. It was a hill or mountain that provided a natural defense for the city, so it became an important symbol for its people.

A city’s “acropolis” could be anything from a hilltop to an artificial structure built on top of bedrock (as it was at Athens). The Greek word “acroterion” means “little peak.”

Eventually, some poleis began using coinage to simplify trade, and an increasingly complex economy developed in these areas.

The polis was a self-governing state that formed in Greece during the Archaic and Classical periods. The polis was the nucleus of the ancient Greek city-state, which was comprised of a small population living within an area protected by walls and defended by armed citizens called hoplites. This form of government ensured that political power remained with those who cared about their community and its members’ welfare, rather than with individuals or families who might have other motives for wanting to rule over others.

The polis also played host to a variety of public institutions including:

A temple dedicated to gods or heroes (or both)

An agora where people would gather; this became home base when they weren’t at work

A gymnasium where athletes trained

The polis were self-governing states that formed in Greece during Archaic and Classical periods

The polis were self-governing states that formed in Greece during Archaic and Classical periods. These cities were ruled by a council of elders, known as the boule, who would meet regularly to discuss matters of state. They also administered justice on their own accord and kept records of all public transactions for use by future generations.

The Greeks believed that their cities should have autonomy from one another—they wanted to be able to govern themselves without having any outside interference or control from other states or empires (such as Persia). This led them towards being wary about any outside power coming into their lands; if an army came into town asking questions about taxes or property ownership disputes, then it was up for discussion whether or not they should be allowed access into these areas!

Conclusion

The polis was a political system that developed in ancient Greece. It was a city-state that consisted of multiple tribes living together, with each tribe governed by a king who answered to another king at home. The polis was led by an oligarchy made up of wealthy landowners and merchants who would share power with more modest members of society like farmers and artisans. In this way, the polis served as a model for other cities throughout Europe and Asia as well!