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city-state
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The Acropolis in Athens, Greece, with the Parthenon temple prominently situated on the rocky hill above the city and ancient ruins visible in the foreground.
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The Acropolis in Athens, Greece, with the Parthenon temple prominently situated on the rocky hill above the city and ancient ruins visible in the foreground.
Athens: Acropolis The Acropolis of the ancient city-state of Athens, Greece.

city-state

politics
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city-state, a political system consisting of an independent city having sovereignty over contiguous territory and serving as a centre and leader of political, economic, and cultural life. The term originated in England in the late 19th century and has been applied especially to the cities of ancient Greece, Phoenicia, and Italy and to the cities of medieval Italy. The name was initially given to the political form that crystallized during the classical period of Greek...

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