A city-state is an independent, self-governing country contained totally within the borders of a single city. The ancient empires of Rome, Carthage, Athens, and Sparta are considered early examples of city-states. The only three agreed upon city-states today are Monaco, Singapore, and Vatican City.

Each city-state ruled itself. They differed greatly from the each other in governing philosophies and interests. For example, Sparta was ruled by two kings and a council of elders. It emphasized maintaining a strong military, while Athens valued education and art.

City-state, a political system consisting of an independent city having sovereignty over contiguous territory and serving as a centre and leader of political, economic, and cultural life. …

The Acropolis played an integral role in Athenian life. Second, Greece’s mountainous terrain led to the development of the polis (city-state), beginning about 750 B.C.E. The high mountains made it very difficult for people to travel or communicate.

Key Difference: A city is a large and permanent settlement. Whereas, a state is a larger area, which is often governed by its own government, known as the State Government. A state is usually bigger in area than a city, and it often incorporates various cities, counties, regions, villages, towns, etc.

Definition. The Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE gave Thebes a decisive victory over Sparta and established Thebes as the most powerful city-state in Greece.

The Theban–Spartan War of 378–362 BC was a series of military conflicts fought between Sparta and Thebes for hegemony over Greece….Theban–Spartan War.

Thebes defied the Spartans by leading a league of Boeotian city-states that Sparta was determined to suppress. A force of Spartan and other Peloponnesian troops was thus sent to attack Thebes, which hastily prepared to defend itself with its Boeotian League allies.

Alexander the Great

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