CLA160H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Sicyon, Hoplite, Pittacus Of Mytilene
Document Summary
A polis is a (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)u(cid:374)it(cid:455) that greeks fi(cid:374)d the(cid:373)sel(cid:448)es li(cid:448)i(cid:374)g i(cid:374). In greek communitis are a relatively small group of privledged people. The lifestyle is based in part on what they have, but its also based on their willingness and worthfulness to provide military leadership. Within these communities, there seems to be a town, or something that is urban, there is a center where people will get together. The centers usually require military fortification and religious values. A polis is a territorial unit with a center. The vast majority of polis in the greek world are cities, towns and villages. These ur(cid:271)a(cid:374) (cid:272)e(cid:374)ters are(cid:374)"t (cid:448)er(cid:455) large, the(cid:455) are fairly small. At its root, a polis means a citadel, which is a fortress. A citadel is referred to as the polis. You need the countryside and the center to have a polis, not one or the other. The(cid:455) refer to the persia(cid:374) e(cid:373)pire as a polis, (cid:271)e(cid:272)ause it"s a si(cid:374)gle orga(cid:374)izatio(cid:374).
