city-state

Guided by the willful and refined tastes of the ruling house of Gonzaga, this cash-poor city-state, a mere marquisate for much of the 15th century, turned cultural prestige into an expression of political might.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

The area sits across the bridge from the wealthy city-state of Singapore, where Srinivasan said he is now a citizen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

The head of the CDU in the northern city-state of Bremen, Heiko Strohmann, told Merz in a recent party meeting that he "was running a political party, not a business".

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

Located a short walk from Singapore's famous Botanic Gardens, the property sits in a prime district of the land-scarce city-state.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

‘Once I stood here at the corner of Zeus’s temple, venerated by all! I oversaw the games of Olympia. Offerings from every city-state were piled at my feet!’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

In Renaissance Italy, with its patchwork of independent city-states and republics, widespread warfare encouraged the expansion of citizen militias proficient in firearms for civic defense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

The region's city-states -- Ur, Uruk, and Lagash among them -- developed complex political and religious systems that became the blueprint for later societies.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2025

“Antigone” was performed during an uneasy respite from war with other Greek city-states.

From Salon ● Feb. 25, 2024

Prior to that final battle, Japan had been a confederation of warring city-states and provinces, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

In politics, much has been made of the rise of monarchies at the expense of formerly self-governing city-states throughout the Greek world.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro