The Failure of the Greek City-States

Empire doesn't really characterize era of city-state between 703-38, except for Athens perhaps. At the Battle of Carinea, 30,000 people from the north came down in 338 BC and destroyed an Athenian and theban army. And that was the end of a free Greek city-state. They had periods of revolt and breathing spaces, but that was pretty much the end. But you can read Demosinese and all of the Attic orders, and you get the impression that there is a big divide between the wealthy and the poor.