Ch10 The City-States
10.1 The Polis
1. Polis
-city, state
-center of Greek life
-farming village, fields and orchards
around an acropolis
-top of acropolis was temple to local
god
-bottom agora (marketplace)
-artisan, traders and members of upper
class
-own government and laws
-5,000 – 10,000 citizens
-men born in a Greek city-state
-women, children, slaves and anyone
not born in Greece
-only citizens could vote, own property,
hold public office and speak in court
-defend polis
-take part in government
-polis was put above everything
-2 major
city-states
-Athens
-strong Navy
-Sparta
-strong Army
2. Geography
-mountainous peninsula in eastern
Mediterranean Sea
-rugged terrain
-limited transportation and communication
-independent city-states
-difficult to unite