City-state facts for kids
Imagine a city that is also its own country! That's what a city-state is. It's a city that has complete control over itself, meaning it's independent. This means it makes its own laws, collects its own taxes, and can even have its own representatives at places like the United Nations.
Long ago, many important city-states existed, especially in ancient Greece. Today, there are still a few examples around the world.
Contents
City-States in History
For a long time, city-states were very common. Some of the most famous historical city-states were in Ancient Greece. These included powerful cities like:
These cities were not just towns; they were like small countries with their own armies, governments, and cultures.
Modern City-States
Today, there are fewer city-states, but some still exist. They can be fully independent countries or special regions within larger countries.
Independent Countries
Some city-states are completely independent nations.
Monaco
Monaco is a tiny country on the French Riviera. Its entire country is basically one big city. Places like Monaco-Ville and Monte Carlo are districts within this city-state, not separate towns. The country's border is the same as the city's border.
Singapore
Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. It was independent for a while, then joined Malaysia, but later became fully independent again. It's a bustling global hub for trade and finance.
Vatican City
The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It was created in 1929 and is completely surrounded by the city of Rome, Italy. It is also the main headquarters for the Roman Catholic Church.
City-States in Other Countries
Some cities act like city-states even though they are part of a larger country. They have a lot of self-governance.
Germany
Germany has 16 states, called Bundesländer. Three of these are city-states: Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen. These cities have their own governments that are similar to state governments. Their head of government is usually called a Mayor in English, not a Minister President like in other German states.
Austria
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is also a federal state within the country. This means it has its own state-level government.
Spain
Spain has two small territories in North Africa that are considered autonomous communities. They have special self-governing powers:
United Kingdom
The British territory of Gibraltar is a small city on the southern tip of Spain. It is a British colony that functions much like a city-state.
Pakistan
Gwadar City in Pakistan was once a colony of the Omani people. Today, it is considered a city-state within Pakistan due to its unique history and status.
Images for kids
-
The Republic of Ragusa, a maritime city-state, was based in the walled city of Dubrovnik.
-
A map showing the Free Imperial Cities in Germany as of 1792.
-
The city of Tangier.
-
Vatican City, a city-state well known for being the smallest country in the world.
-
The city of Basel, located on the Rhine, is a historic city-state and a Swiss canton.
See also
In Spanish: Ciudad-Estado para niños
