Greek City
StatesArgos, Corinth,
Megara
The Greek Polis
• Polis: Greek word for city-state
• What is it: City and area around it under its own government, with its own way of life.
• Essential mini-countries and cultures.
Argos• Protector: Goddess Hera• Geography:
• Located on plain, near harbor• Bad soil, farming difficult
• Became leaders in trade• Traded w/other city states• Invented coins• Made trade easier
Argos• Arts:
• Created sculptures• Athletes w/perfect bodies
• Wrote plays, poetry, and music• Famous for its arts
• Government:• Ruled by Kings• Fought both Athens and Sparta
Corinth• Protector: Apollo• Geography:
• Located on coast• Known as problem solvers
• Built aqueducts to bring fresh water to city
• Created its own coins (like Argos)• Richest of City-States
Corinth• Made Money in 2 ways
• Charge money to exchange coins• Could only use their coins to buy things in city
• Isthmus of Corinth• Thin strip of land connecting 2 larger pieces• Built stone track• Allowed them to drag ships across Isthmus• Charge a fee to do this
• Government and Military• Monarchy• All males spend 2 years in military school• Fought Athens and Sparta• Built large commercial and warship fleets.
Megara• Protector: Artemis• Government: Monarchy
• People still had great deal of freedom
• Economy:• Traders• Created its own coinage• Established towns and outposts
Megara• Arts:
• Beautiful statues• Colorful textiles (cloth)• Wrote plays, good at comedy
• Built arenas just for plays
• Military• Could fight• Preferred not to• Rather trade or negotiate
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