Athens is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of democracy.
Athenian democracy developed in the city-state of Athens during the 5th century BCE. It was a direct system in which eligible male citizens could participate personally in the Assembly, rather than electing representatives to make every decision for them.
Reforms by Cleisthenes around 508 BCE are commonly treated as a major foundation of the system. Earlier changes by Solon and later developments under leaders such as Pericles also shaped Athenian political institutions. Citizens voted on laws, policy, and some public appointments, while many offices were assigned by lot.
Athenian democracy was highly limited by modern standards. Women, enslaved people, foreigners, and children were excluded from citizenship. The system also changed over time and was interrupted by periods of oligarchic rule. Its institutions nevertheless influenced later political thought and gave the modern word democracy its Greek roots: demos, meaning people, and kratos, meaning power or rule.