Introduction
What is a city-state?
There are no city-states left in Greece to use as an example. We have to look into the past to find some.
After the Greek dark ages, villages started to band together, in part for protection and in part for more organized trade. They wanted strong trading centers. Groups of villages that banded together were called city-states. There were hundreds of city-states in ancient Greece, some really small ones and some really big ones with large populations.
Although each city-state had its own form of government and its own army, and even sometimes its own navy, and each city-state certainly its own way of doing things, the city-states of ancient Greece had many things in common. They all spoke the same language; they all believed in the same gods; they all worshiped in the same way; they all thought of themselves as Greeks. But they were loyal to their city-state. If you asked someone in ancient Greece where they were from, they would not say they were from Greece, because Greece at that time was not a country. It was a collection of city-states, each with its own personality and way of doing things. They would say they were from Athens, or Sparta, or Corinth, or Argos. The Greeks were very proud of their own city-state.
The city-states banded together to fight outsiders. They also banded together to fight each other.
Five of the most powerful Greek city-states
Process
Process:
You will work independently to research one of the following city-states: Argos, Athens, Corinth, Megara, or Sparta. You will use the internet, your textbook, and other media sources to find information to complete the note-taking guide for your city-state.
Upon completion of your research you will design a flag, write a motto, and draw a mascot to represent the most important information you learned about your assigned city-state.
Use the internet resources listed below your city-state to get started.
ARGOS
http://greece.mrdonn.org/argos.html
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/greek_city_state.php
http://www.greek-gods.info/ancient-greece/argos/
http://roadrunnersguidetotheancientworld.com/argos/
ATHENS
http://greece.mrdonn.org/athens.html
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greek_athens.php
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_greeks/athens/
http://primaryfacts.com/3088/athens-facts-about-the-ancient-greek-city-state/
http://www.greek-gods.info/ancient-greece/athens/
CORINTH
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/greek_city_state.php
http://greece.mrdonn.org/corinth.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/government/corinth.htm
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Hutto/Corinth.htm
http://www.greek-gods.info/ancient-greece/corinth/
MEGARA
http://greece.mrdonn.org/megara.html
https://roomss6.wikispaces.com/MEGARA+Period+7
http://www.geocities.ws/classicalbackpacking/megara.html
YOU ARE A MEGARIAN! Be proud that you are a Greek and come from such a respected city-state as Megara. As a coastal city-state, your history is similar to Corinth's, your neighbor. You believe your schools are as fine as those of Athens, although you have no doubt that any Athenian would disagree. You have been trained in the arts and the sciences. As a child, you were taught at home by your mother, or by a male slave. From age 7-14, you attended a day school near your home where you memorized poetry and studied drama, public speaking, reading, writing, science, poetry, the flute, the lyre, and a great deal of mathematics. Like most Megarians, you love money and have been trained to be an excellent accountant. You attended a higher school, and went to military school. Your polis is famous for its glorious textiles, which are the envy of other Greek city-states. You have, of course, your own coinage, an idea you copied from Corinth. Literature, culture, art, and businesses thrive in your city-state. You believe you offer your citizens even more freedom than Athens. (After the Peloponnesian War, Athen's famous philosopher, Plato, moved to Megara, where he remained for 10 years, so perhaps you are right! You also founded the city of Byzantium, also called Constantinople, now called Istanbul, way back in 630 BCE.) You are proud of your city-state's past and present achievements, and proud to be a Megarian!
MEGARIAN GOALS AND BEHAVIOR AT THE OLYMPICS: If you can't win, help Argos and Corinth to defeat those boastful Athenians and those militant fanatics, the Spartans. If it comes down to Athens or Sparta, cheer for Sparta, loudly. (They might be militant, but those are good friends to have in time of war! Besides, you are tired of hearing about wonderful Athens.) You are Megarians, proud of your history, your flourishing businesses, your world famous textiles, your freedoms, your schools, your coastal advantage - your rich and vibrant city-state, Megara. Good luck in the games!
SPARTA
http://greece.mrdonn.org/sparta.html
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/sparta.php
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/government/spartans.htm
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/greece/sparta.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_greeks/sparta/