The concept of a polis

The polis was what they called the small, independent Greek city-states during the Classical period. It was a unique institution in that governance was not ruled by a monarchy as was commonplace with traditional states of the time, but a group of men who were either elective or chosen from among the nobility and later on, from among all free citizens. rank was determined by birth although citizenship by naturalization was oftentimes admitted.Slaves, foreigners and women who love within the polis were not involved in government and not allowed to knowledge land. In fact, slave labor was encouraged because they formed the backbone of the agricultural economy. The polis was usually bounded by walls and citadels and within was an agora or marketplace, the boil down of the city trade, and numerous temples. most(prenominal) citizens live within but some members resided in the countryside. The juvenile-day equivalent of the polis would be any city in Western Europe or America.Like the classical polis, modern cities atomic number 18 political states, the citizens register with city hall or pays residential taxes, and at that place would be foreigners or residents coming from other places who would be subjected to the laws and regulations of the city. Its leaders argon also elected or appointed. Unlike the polis, however, affiliation with a modern city is only political and not religious. Also, the hierarchies in modern cities be not ascribed by birth but by ones economic status.Most importantly, women and residents coming from other cities already have political rights and could even matrimony in the government. There are open borders now instead of walled castle between cities. Slavery has been banished and the basis of the economy has become as compound as the social structure of the city. Finally, although the city government can introduce its own ordinances and budget, the city itself is not dependent in that it is governed and part of a larger unit , the national government.