Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
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.