They also fought against each other like during the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta. It also was known for its architecture.ĭelphi was known as the spiritual center of all city-states and Sparta was known for its militaristic attitude. Instead they would refer to themselves as an Athenian, Spartan, or Corinthian.Īncient Greek city-states were known for something specific too.įor instance, Corinth was a wealthy city because of trade. The people of each city-state did not refer to themselves as Greeks. The most powerful or influential city-states were Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, and Delphi. There were numerous city-states within Ancient Greece. They traded goods with each other.Ĭity-states also created different currencies which forced traders to use specific currency in each city-state. City-states liked competing against one another and each city-state would send a team of athletes to compete in the Olympic Games.Ĭity-states were also proud and each proclaimed to have the best of everything like athletes, fabrics, art work, and theater. The culture of each city-state was similar too. Different but the sameĬity-states in Ancient Greece had many things in common.įor instance, the people of each city-state had similar gods and prayed the alike. One city-state, Athens, developed a form of government called democracy which allowed the people to rule the polis. Some used a combination such as Sparta which had two kings and a council of oligarchs. Other city-states depended on a council of oligarchies comprised of rich or powerful men to rule. In some city-states monarchies controlled the polis with one powerful king or tyrant. There were several different ways that city-states were ruled. Map of Greece, drawn in 1791 by William FadenĬity-states or the polis were controlled by various forms of government. There were some instances of a city-state controlling a nearby smaller city. The dominant city controlled all the lands around the city. In the middle of each city-state was a dominant city.
The only time Ancient Greece was one country was during the reign of Alexander the Great.Įach city-state operated independently of each other.