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City-States

Definition

City-states are independent cities which have their own governments separate from those of surrounding territories. They function as both a city and a sovereign state.

Analogy

Imagine if each neighborhood in your city had its own rules, leaders, and even currency. That's what life is like in a city-state - it's like a mini country within a larger geographical area.

Related terms

Sovereignty: The supreme authority within a territory. In the case of city-states, this means they have the power to govern themselves without interference from outside sources.

Republic: A form of government where power resides in elected individuals representing the citizen body. Many ancient city-states, such as those in Rome or Athens, were republics.

Feudalism: A social system prevalent in medieval Europe under which peasants were obliged to serve their landlords who offered them protection in return. This contrasts with the self-governance seen in city-states.