Synoecism or synecism, also spelled synoikism, was originally the amalgamation of villages in Ancient Greece into poleis, or city-states. Etymologically the word means "dwelling together in the same house." Subsequently, any act of civic union between polities of any size was described by the word synoikismos.

What is the meaning of Synoecism?

1 : a joining together : union specifically : a uniting of several towns or villages into one community (as in ancient Greece) 2 : the condition of being synoecious.

What occurred during synoecism?

Synoecism is the political unification of several communities into a single city-state, under the authority of one main urban center. This term is most often applied to ancient Greece and the rise of city-states like Athens. ... Thus, Athens became a city-state through diplomacy and negotiation, not conquest.