What Was the Polis?
Briefly

The article discusses the significance of the Greek polis, emphasizing its multifaceted nature as a physical place, governance system, and civic ideal that significantly shaped Western civilization. John Ma's book, "Polis: A New History of the Ancient Greek City-State From the Early Iron Age to the End of Antiquity," delves into the vast influence of the polis, ranging from its development in the ninth or eighth century BCE to its continued evolution until the sixth century CE. It highlights the Greek culture’s spread across the Mediterranean and beyond, resulting in numerous settlements that embody Greek ideals.
The Greek polis embodies a complex blend of physical space, government form, and civic ideals, profoundly impacting Western civilization through democracy and cultural innovations.
In his book, John Ma explores the expansive influence of the Greek polis, tracing its origins and enduring legacy from the Early Iron Age to the end of antiquity.
Read at The Nation
[
|
]