CITY STATES OF ANCIENT GREECE
Ancient Geece was not a unified nation. Control of the country was divided between a number of independent city-states which often formed shifting alliances with each other or fought to expand or preserve their spheres of influence. Here are the major city-states which influenced and sometimes dominated Greek civilisation.
Argos
Founded in prehistoric times. In Homer's poem the Iliad, it was the kingdom of the sailor-warrior Diodemese. Ascendancy challenged by Sparta in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. It later periodically sided with Athens against Sparta.
Athens
Founded in prehistoric times. Became the leading city-state in the 5th century BC, particularly under the statesman Pericles (about 494 to 429 BC). Defeat by Sparta in 404 BC led to its political decline.
Corinth
Founded about 1350 BC. Important industrial and commercial centre in the 7th BC. Alternately supported Athens and Sparta. Looted and destroyed by Romans in 146 BC and rebuilt in 44 BC.
Rhodes
Founded in 408 BC. Became the richest city-state through trade. Sided with Rome against the Syrian king Antiochus the Great, who was defeated at Thermopylae in 191 BC. Was later dominated by Rome and its maritime power declined.

Sparta
Founded about 1000 BC by Dorian Greeks. Defeated Athens in Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC) and became most powerful city-state. It went into decline after its defeat by Thebes in 371 BC.
Thebes
Founded in prehistoric times. Helped Sparta to defeat Athens in 404 BC, then drove the Spartans out of central Greece in 371 BC. Briefly became chief city-state but in 362 BC was defeated by a Spartan alliance and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 336 BC.

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