A political system consisting of an independent city having sovereignty over contiguous territory and serving as the center of political, economic, and cultural life. The term originated in England in the late 19th century and has been applied especially to the cities of ancient Greece, Phoenicia, and Italy and to the cities of medieval Italy. Its ancient name, polis, was derived from the citadel (acropolis) that was its administrative center. City-states differed from tribal or national systems in size, patriotism, and desire for independence. The origin of city-states probably occurred between 1000-800 BC in Greece, the Aegean islands, and western Asia Minor. As they grew, their people went out and created city-states on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, mainly between 750-550 BC. A city-state had its own government and was not subject to any outside authority.