Athenian democracy

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Athenian democracy developed around the 6th century BC in the Greek city-state (known as a polis) of Athens. It comprised the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, and supported ideals of liberty, equality, and security. Athens practiced a political system of legislation and executive bills. Participation was open to free, adult male citizens (i.e., not minors, metics, women or slaves). Adult male citizens probably constituted no more than 30 percent of the total adult population. Solon (in 594 BC), Cleisthenes (in 508–07 BC), and Ephialtes (in 462 BC) contributed to the development of Athenian democracy. Cleisthenes broke up the unlimited power of the nobility by organizing citizens into ten groups based on where they lived, rather than by their wealth. The longest-lasting democratic leader was Pericles, who led Athens from 461 to 429 BC. After his death, Athenian democracy was twice briefly interrupted by oligarchic revolutions in 411 and 404 BC. These occurred during...

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