Answer:
The concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece, specifically in the city-state of Athens around the 5th century BCE. Athens is often considered the birthplace of democracy as it developed a system where citizens had direct participation in decision-making. This early form of democracy was known as Athenian democracy.
In Athenian democracy:
- Citizens (adult males who were born in Athens and were not slaves) participated directly in the decision-making process.
- They could vote on laws and policies, serve on juries, and hold public office.
- The Assembly (Ekklesia) was the main democratic institution where citizens gathered to debate and vote on laws.
While Athenian democracy was limited to a relatively small portion of the population compared to modern democracies, it laid the foundation for the democratic principles of citizen participation, equality under the law, and freedom of speech that are core to many democratic systems today.