Western democracy, as we know it today, has its roots in ancient Greece. In fact, the term "democracy" itself comes from the Greek language, where "demos" means "people" and "kratos" means "power."
The ancient Greeks were the first civilization to establish a system of government in which the people had a say in the decision-making process. This system, known as direct democracy, allowed all citizens to participate in the assembly and vote on laws and policies.
One of the earliest examples of direct democracy can be found in the city-state of Athens, which flourished during the fifth century BC. The Athenians established a system of government called the polis, in which all citizens were allowed to participate in the assembly and vote on matters of public concern.
The Athenian assembly was made up of all adult male citizens, who would gather in the agora, the central marketplace of the city, to discuss and vote on issues. This system allowed for a greater degree of participation and representation than was found in other ancient civilizations, where power was often concentrated in the hands of a small group of elites.
In addition to the assembly, the Athenians also established a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one group or individual held too much power. This included the creation of a council of 500 citizens, chosen by lot, to serve as advisors to the assembly and to oversee the administration of the city.
Another key aspect of ancient Greek democracy was the concept of citizenship. In Athens, only citizens were allowed to participate in the assembly and hold public office. This excluded women, slaves, and non-Athenian residents, who were not considered full members of the community.
Despite its limitations, the Athenian system of democracy was a significant step forward in the development of the principles of self-governance and political equality. It laid the foundations for the democratic systems that would emerge in the modern world and has had a lasting influence on the political systems of many countries today.
In conclusion, the ancient Greeks established the basis of western democracy through their system of direct democracy in the city-state of Athens. This system, which allowed for citizen participation and a system of checks and balances, laid the foundations for the democratic systems that we see in the world today.