Ancient Greece’s main political unit was the city-state or polis. Each city-state had a separate government, laws, and institutions.
In ancient Greece, the landscape was covered with hundreds of small, self-contained city-states known as “polis.” Unlike other cultures of the time, primarily huge kingdoms or tribal regions, these poleis maintained rigid independence, rarely considering unification, even when confronted with a common enemy. The hilly topography and natural divisions of the Greek geography fostered this fragmented system, with each city-state ruling itself and having its laws, customs, and identity. Although the Greeks shared a similar language, religion, and cultural heritage, their devotion was essentially to their particular city-state.
Throughout Greece, this devotion to the polis produced a distinct political landscape. For example, Athens transitioned from monarchy to oligarchy and finally to democracy, the world’s first, where all citizens could express their views in the Ecclesia, or citizens’ assembly. On the other hand, Sparta maintained its diarchy, with two kings in charge and a council of officials and elders balancing the king’s authority. The principles and interests of each city-state were emphasized by these various systems of government, with Sparta placing a greater emphasis on discipline and military might and Athens encouraging public involvement.
Despite their independent attitude, alliances emerged occasionally, particularly when confronted with external dangers such as the Persians. Even these coalitions were short-lived, as city-states reverted to infighting and competitiveness after the common threat had gone. Rather than a single Greek empire, ancient Greece was a tapestry of poleis, each one distinct, fiercely proud, and forging its own story of independence and perseverance.