FREE ESSAY ON THE POLIS

THE POLIS

During the Archaic Period of Ancient Greece, many communities segregated themselves into
small, subdivided city-states. Such cities were small, but managed to establish the very
roots of democracy today. The term "polis" can be defined as an independent state
governed by its population. Such a definition is accurate, however also could be
considered broad and constricted. In deeper aspects, the polis was an organized state or
community that worked together in upholding equivalent rights with an effort to prevent
tyranny, or a state governed by one person. The polis went through extensive political
efforts to maintain its unity and natural rights. Such qualities of a state led to other
enhancements of the polis such as the social, religious, and economic aspects of joined
community.
The polis developed shortly after Cultural Revolution of ancient Greece during the early
Archaic Period. During this time period almost every aspect of life went experienced a
major change. Socially and politically Greece began to develop greater stability. Unlike
other areas, which developed mostly into personal leadership, Greece followed an
antagonistic political principle of unity and basic equality. The polis emerged from such
political ideology to form a state of equal "natural" rights and the absence of tyranny.
Some of the major reasons why Greece did not develop single rulers were because of
financially weak kings, weapons which made war chiefs obsolete in strategic commanding,
geographical isolation, and a simplicity of Greek life which withheld principles of
equality. Such conditions helped curve the development of the polis.
Politically, the polis was known to be well established. The political structure of the
polis was based upon its value of equal representation and natural rights. Therefore 
the major office was filled with different officials managing different aspects of the
community. One official might conduct religious ceremonies, another official would
control civil aspects, and son on. Such members of the cabinet were only temporary, and
were replaced on a regular basis to avoid anyone gaining too much political strength.
Individually, citizens of the polis had equal rights and commitments to their
communities. Every citizen had an equal representation and say in their beliefs and ideas
which would strengthen their community. Likewise, everyone also had equal votes and
voices to elect officials in performing higher tasks. Eventually such officials grew into
a council which
Gained higher roles and duties parallel with the growing population. In time political
and military organizations began fighting with other independent states over possession
of farmland and other important geographical aspects. As the population of such states
grew, complications did as well. However the polis continually managed to maintain its
ideology of communal unity. (Starr, p.206)
Socially the polis contained moral and ideal qualities that are still contained in modern
democracy. Aside from equal representation, citizens of the polis had great appreciation
for their state in government, and worked collectively to preserve such a state. Their
society was composed of equal citizens who constantly worked to supply their needs for
both survival and growth. Although the polis did consist of several classes, none were
distinguished too sharply and everyone was focused more on their community rather than
themselves. The social classes of a typical polis consists of an upper class where one
must be a citizen without a job but a method of high income. A member of the upper class
would also be free from economic tasks such as trading or 
farming, but instead must get slaves or others to attend material concerns such as
property and fortune. Only by such liberation of work can an upperclassman find time for
government, war, literature, and philosophy. The Greeks also believed there must be a
leisure class, or there would be no standard for good taste, no encouragement of the
arts, and no civilization. Such a class fell into the category of the middle class. The
middle class also had a large number of non-citizens from foreign birth. Although they
were ineligible for citizenship, they would spend their lives professionally as
merchants, contractors, tradesman, craftsman, and artists. In fact a large portion of the
ceramic industries of some cities were owned by the middle class. Such occupations and
economic liberty far outweighed the downside of non-citizenship. Although they were
unable to own land or marry into a family of citizens, the non-citizens still maintained
a substantial wealth and a comfortable life. The lower class of the polis was partly made
up of freedmen, who at one time in their lives had been slaves. Most of the time these
people were not citizens of the State, so the best they could ever be is middle class.
The remainder of the lower class consisted of farmers and peasants who worked enough only
to continue their daily lifestyles. Such people rarely were citizens of the state, and
were only a minor step above slavery. Therefore Greeks in general felt that all men were
not created equal. To citizen, there was no greater disgrace than being stripped of his
citizenship. Some families had lived in Greece for generations, but they still were not
considered citizens. The middle and lower classes outnumbered the upper class by an
enormous number, but only the upper class citizens who owned land could vote. This meant
that all the decisions were made by the few, even though the rules they made up applied
to all. (Lumas, p.108) 
The citizens and all classes of the polis valued religion and culture very much.
Typically, a Greek state would contain an official that would act as the religious leader
for the remaining population. Such an official would conduct ceremonies to worship their
gods and perform the religious tasks that were expected by their gods. However, although
a common religion was practiced by a huge majority of the population, it was not required
by many of the lower classes. As mentioned earlier, the Greeks highly valued their
personal and individual freedom. Such freedom was a major aspect of their culture and was
expressed through different arts and ideas. Although the Greek citizens highly
appreciated a stable economy and workforce, they valued freedom and culture even more.
The production wines, paintings, ceramics, and traditional ceremonies for weddings,
births, and funerals were all an important aspect of Greek culture. The Greeks valued the
enjoyment and leisure of life to the same degree (if not more) than any other aspect of
their civilization. (Starr,208)
The Polis was indeed a highly organized concept of civilization. The values and freedoms
which originated from the polis are strongly reflected in modern society. Their belief in
individual rights and an overall commitment towards their community seemed to have been
applied much well in the Greek society than it ever would in our modern democracy.
However the ideas which originated from the polis serve as an ideal state and a goal
which we continually aim to achieve in our modern world. 
Bibliography
References
- Chester G. Starr, A History Of The Ancient World, 4th ed. 1991
- Michael A. Lumas, The Atlas of World Histroy, 1993.