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| The polis was the most characteristic and, historically, the most significant
organization type of Greek state. The emergence of the polis, which has been
the basis of Greek civilization for centuries, dates to the mid-8th
century BC and coincides, chronologically, with the rise of aristocracy
and the consolidation of the social unit of the household. |
| This type of political organization prevailed in all Greek settlements
of Asia Minor, the islands and certain parts of mainland Greece.
Poleis resulted from parts of tribes which had broken up during or after the time
of the migrations and had become independent, as well as from the amalgamation of komae (villages).
The tribal structure survived in many cities as well, as did the division into
phylae (tribes) and phratries (clans), whereas the customary law had prevailed
everywhere until the Archaic era. |
| Throughout historical times, the Macedonians, as well as populations who had remained in the area of Pindus
and Epirus, preserved the old tribal organization headed by
the chief who developed into a hereditary king, the council
of chiefs of the race, usually called the council of elders, and the assembly
of warriors. |
 The
ancient Greeks identified the concept of the polis with the state and for this
reason constitution was its basic element. The characteristic quality of the polis
was its limited territory or land in which its jurisdiction was effective. The main settlement
included the citadel and was surrounded in most cases by walls. Another characteristic
of the polis was autonomy. Each city had its own patron gods, institutions,
coinage and troops. |