Overview Greek city-states developed different forms of governance with very different political structures and strengths. Greek colonization led to the spread of the Greek language and Greek culture, but it also resulted in tensions with the neighbouring Persian empire, culminating in the Persian Wars. Athens developed democratic institutions and a culture of philosophy, science, and culture; it emerged as a powerful state and allied with other city-states, forming the Delian League. Resistance to Athens’ power among the other Greek city-states, particularly Sparta, prompted the Peloponnesian War.

1. The PolisH.D.F. Kitto
-Amit Anand | 15110003

2. Humphrey Davey Findley Kitto ( 1897 –1982 )
British classical scholar of Cornish ancestry
HeWrote a book called "In the Mountains of Greece",
Explains his trip in That Country With Unimportant
Mino reference to the ancient times in 1952.
He published “The Greeks“ that became a standard
text.
This book covered the ancient Greek culture and
traditions.
About Author
Source:Wikipedia

3. Overview
Greek city-states developed different forms of governance with very different political
structures and strengths.
Greek colonization led to the spread of the Greek language and Greek culture, but it also
resulted in tensions with the neighbouring Persian empire, culminating in the PersianWars.
Athens developed democratic institutions and a culture of philosophy, science, and culture; it
emerged as a powerful state and allied with other city-states, forming the Delian League.
Resistance to Athens’ power among the other Greek city-states, particularly Sparta, prompted
the PeloponnesianWar.

4. “Polis” as “City-state”
The Real Polis wasn’t much
like a city and was much
more than a state A “ Self-
governing-community” is a
closet translation to Polis In
order to be able to
understand the real meaning
of a “ Polis” , We have to be
able to understand the Greek
history, mind &
achievements.

6. The classical Greek Polis came of
age in the 5th century BCE Fifth-
century Athens is the Greek city-
state of Athens in the time from
480 BC-404 BC. This was a period
of Athenian political hegemony,
economic growth and cultural
flourishing formerly known as the
GoldenAge of Athens.

7. The physical form stressed Public
spaces
They emphasized public temples,
stadiums and agora (a combined
market place and public forum)
Private houses were usually away
from streets
In Athens, Public spaces were
beautifully constructed of Marble,
which shows that the community
devoted a lot of it resources to it

8. Public spaces

9. 1. Geographic reasons
Physical nature of the country (
Mountainous terrain ) which
acted as physical barrier
Sub division helped but wasn’t a
major reason. There were some
neighbouring Polis which didn’t have
interaction
>
2. Economic reasons
Transport of goods was difficult
except by sea, when people
weren’t so confident about it.
There was no great economic
interdependence or reciprocal pull
between the different parts of the
country , strong enough to counteract
the desire of Greek to live in small
communities
3. The Greek character
“Acropolis” meant for Greek the stronghold of the whole
community and the centre of public life which later meant
Citadel .The difference betweenTerritory and towns as centres
>

10. Confusing size with significance
Ancient Greek philosophers and size of the Polis: In Plato’s Republic or Aristotle’s politics, We find
that the ideal city shall have 5000 citizens, where people can know each other by sight.
Only 3 polis had more than 20,000 citizens, two were in Sicily, and the third was Athens.
Scale of Polis to scale of our cities today , Aristotle’s Philosophy

11. State and Community
Polis then originally Citadel may
mean as much as “ The whole
communal life of people,
political, cultural, moral even
economic”
As to the kitto, It’s equivalent to
saying “ Our national wealth” in
present day global societies

12. Social life and coherence
The polis was a living community based
on kinship, and a kind of extended
family.
Religion, art, games, and discussion of
things were people needs that had to be
satisfied only through the Polis For us,
it’s as voluntary associations or
entrepreneurs appealing to individuals.
This partly can explain the difference
between the Greek drama and the
modern cinema.

13. Thank You