At around 1,000 B.C., Greece accumulated significant knowledge from nearby empires and invented a new type of settlement. Polis referred to an independent city-state governed by a set of laws instead of the king’s decisions (Hunt et al. 42). In my opinion, compared to the previous forms of reign, a polis was a more effective and unprejudiced means of governing. Athens and Sparta were some of the most developed Greek city-states; however, their values and social hierarchy differed (Hunt et al. 58). Athens was a progressive and democratic polis emphasizing trade. On the other hand, Sparta focused on military expansion and chose the political direction of oligarchy (Hunt et al. 64). The rivalry between the two poleis was transparently demonstrated during the Greek Golden Age in the Peloponnesian War. As a result of the conflict, Sparta was able to conquer most of the nearby territories and submit Athens to its rule, despite a significant number of disadvantages.
Work Cited
Hunt, Lynn, et al. The Making of the West, Volume 1: Peoples and Cultures (6th Edition). Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2019.