How were the ancient Greek city-states different from U.S. states?

Ancient Greek city-states, known as "poleis" (singular: polis), were quite different from modern U.S. states in several fundamental ways:

1. Sovereignty: Each Greek city-state was an independent sovereign entity. They had their own governments, laws, armies, and currencies, and they often engaged in warfare with one another. In contrast, U.S. states are not fully sovereign as they are part of a larger federal system and must adhere to the U.S. Constitution, which establishes a strong federal government with certain powers over the states.

2. Government Structure: The ancient Greek city-states each had their own unique form of government, which could include monarchies, oligarchies, tyrannies, and democracies. The United States is a federal republic with a democratic form of government, where power is shared between the federal government and the states.

3. Size and Population: Greek city-states were generally much smaller than U.S. states, both in terms of geographical size and population. For example, Athens at its height had a population of around 300,000 people, while modern U.S. states like California and Texas have populations in the tens of millions.

4. Citizenship and Political Participation: In a Greek polis, citizenship was often restricted to a small, privileged class of males who owned property. This group was responsible for political decisions, with varying degrees of direct participation, especially in a direct democracy like Athens. In the U.S., all citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote, regardless of property ownership, and political participation is encouraged across a wide population.

5. Economy and Society: Greek city-states had economies that were based on agriculture, trade, and sometimes on colonial expansion. Slavery was widespread, and social structures were more rigid. U.S. states have highly diversified economies with advanced technology, services, and industry sectors. Slavery was abolished in the U.S. during the 19th century, and modern U.S. society, while still having inequalities, offers more social mobility and legal protections.

6. Cultural and Linguistic Unity: While the Greek city-states shared a common language and religion, they were fiercely independent and often developed distinct cultural practices. The U.S. states share not only a common language and federal legal system, but also a more cohesive national identity, despite regional cultural differences.