Final answer:
The root word –polis– traditionally refers to a 'city-state' in ancient Greece and symbolizes the body of citizens within it, not just the physical location.
Step-by-step explanation:
The root word –polis– refers to a 'city-state' in ancient Greece and is derived from the Greek term. The term polis signifies much more than just the physical infrastructure of a city; it embodies the entire body of citizens. The polis was the center of governance and political life in Greek antiquity, typically starting from a network of villages that would grow into a centrally governed urban center. As notions of citizenship became more prevalent, particularly among landowners, the term polis came to describe not only the geographical area but also the people that made up the citizen body of the city-state.