As an expert in political systems and ancient history, I can provide a detailed explanation of the nature of democracy in ancient Greece, specifically focusing on Athens, which is often cited as the birthplace of democracy. Step 1: Answer in English **Ancient Athenian Democracy: A Form of Direct Democracy** The term "democracy" is derived from the Greek words "demos," meaning "people," and "kratos," meaning "power" or "rule." Ancient Athens, which flourished between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, is renowned for its early form of democracy. It was indeed a form of direct democracy, where citizens had the power to participate directly in the decision-making process. Citizen Participation and Voting In Athenian democracy, all adult male citizens were eligible to participate in the Ecclesia, or the Assembly, which was the principal governing body. The Assembly met regularly, and it was here that citizens would gather to debate and vote on matters of state, including laws, war, and peace. This direct involvement in legislation and executive decisions was a key feature distinguishing Athenian democracy from other forms of governance at the time. The Role of Pericles Pericles, a prominent and influential statesman, led Athens during its Golden Age (approximately 461–429 BCE). Under his leadership, Athens saw a surge in artistic and architectural achievements, including the construction of the Parthenon. Pericles also expanded the democracy by paying citizens who participated in the political process, thus allowing more citizens to take part without financial concerns. Limitations and Exclusions It is important to note, however, that Athenian democracy was not inclusive of all residents. Women, slaves, and foreigners (metics) were excluded from the democratic process. This exclusion significantly limited the scope of democracy, as these groups constituted a large portion of the population. Other Greek City-States While Athens is the most famous example, other Greek city-states also experimented with forms of democracy. However, as the provided reference suggests, "Other Greek cities set up democracies, most following the Athenian model, but none are as well documented as Athens'." This indicates that while the concept of democracy was not unique to Athens, the extent and depth of documentation for Athenian democracy make it the primary case study for understanding ancient democratic practices. **Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy** It is also worth contrasting direct democracy, as practiced in Athens, with the more common form of democracy today, which is representative democracy. In a representative democracy, citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. This system is considered more practical for larger populations and complex societies but does raise questions about the extent of direct citizen involvement in governance. Conclusion In conclusion, ancient Athens was a direct democracy where eligible citizens had the opportunity to participate directly in the legislative and executive processes. This system was innovative for its time and has had a lasting impact on political thought and the development of democratic principles. However, it was also limited by the exclusion of significant portions of the population from the democratic process. **Step 2: Output "read more >>

Other Greek cities set up democracies, most following the Athenian model, but none are as well documented as Athens'. It was a system of direct democracy, in which participating citizens voted directly on legislation and executive bills. ... The longest-lasting democratic leader was Pericles.read more >>