City-states

Definition

City-states were independent, self-governing cities and their surrounding territories that functioned as individual political units in ancient civilizations. They had their own governments, laws, and economies.

Related terms

Empire: A large political unit that encompasses multiple city-states or territories under a single ruler.

Urbanization: The process of a society becoming more urban or city-centered.

Trade Networks: The routes and systems through which goods and ideas are exchanged between different city-states or regions.