PPT Slide
The Greek city state, or polis, consisted of a fortified hilltop, and the surrounding fields. In the city states life revolved around the acropolis, or hilltop fortress. This where citizens gathered to discuss defense of the city state, politics, or to perform religious ceremonies.
During the dark age the system of government was a monarchy, or rule by a king. By 800 BC this changed to rule by aristocracy, or a ruling upper class. Their power was based on land ownership.
After 750 bc, the people left the hillsides and formed colonies along the shorelines. This helped to encourage trade and increased the Greeks contact with other Mediterranean peoples. This lead to the exchange of ideas, such as the use of coined money which helped to develop a merchant class in Greece, that would eventually challenge the aristocracy.