Question

Explain how the Polis was organized (bottom to top).

Answer 1

A Polis was the way a community was organized in ancient Greece. It consisted in:

1. An Urban Center, which was the site where people lived. It was usually fortified with a wall in case of eventual conflicts. It had areas for public and private purposes, including places like a gymnasium or theatre.
2. A Sacred Center, which was built and designated for religious purposes.

These centers were built in an Acropolis, which is a natural harbor surrounded by extensions of land.

Each Polis was considered to be a city-state, due to the fact that each had its own political, judicial and legal structure.