City-state

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/city-state

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is City-state?Historically widespread; modern examples include Southeast Asia and Southern Europe
2. How many people live in City-state?Varies significantly, from approximately 800 (Vatican City) to over 5.9 million (Singapore)
3. What is the capital of City-state?The city itself functions as the capital and administrative center
4. Why were city-states important in ancient times?Ancient city-states like Athens and Rome were powerful because they were independent and could create new ideas, trade, and strong armies.
5. How did city-states change when larger nations grew?When kings and queens made bigger countries, many city-states joined those larger states and lost some independence.

City-state: An independent sovereign city that functions as a complete political entity.
Sovereignty: The supreme authority within a territory; the power to govern itself.
Nation-state: A sovereign state whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent.
Autonomy: The right or condition of self-government; freedom from external control.