Although he was aware of the existence and potential of larger empires, the natural community according to Aristotle was the city (polis) which functions as a political "community" or "partnership" (koinōnia).
ɔːlðˈoʊ hiː wʌz ɐwˈɛɹ ʌvðɪ ɛɡzˈɪstəns ænd pətˈɛnʃəl ʌv lˈɑːɹdʒɚɹ ˈɛmpaɪɚz, ðə nˈætʃɚɹəl kəmjˈuːnᵻɾi ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tʊ ˈæɹɪstˌɑːɾəl wʌzðə sˈɪɾi pˈoʊliz wˌɪtʃ fˈʌŋkʃənz æz ɐ pəlˈɪɾɪkəl "kəmjˈuːnᵻɾi" ɔːɹ "pˈɑːɹtnɚʃˌɪp" kɔɪnˈoʊniə.