What is a key feature of a city-state in ancient civilizations?

A key feature of a city-state in ancient civilizations is its independence from larger territories. City-states operated as autonomous political entities, often governed by their own laws and systems of governance, distinct from the influence of larger kingdoms or empires. This independence allowed them to maintain their unique cultural identities, engage in trade, and form alliances or conflicts with other city-states or regions without direct control from overarching authorities.

In contrast, subordination to an empire suggests a form of governance where the city-state would lose its independence and operate under the rules of a larger power, which is not characteristic of city-states. Shared governance with neighboring cities implies a level of collaboration that may dilute the autonomous nature of a city-state; these entities typically managed their affairs independently. Lastly, prioritizing rural development over urban contradicts the very essence of a city-state, which is fundamentally centered around urbanization and the administrative, economic, and cultural activities concentrated within a city.