508 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
The Birth of Democracy in Athens
On the timeline · around 508 BCE · Ancient Roots
What happened
In 508 BCE the Athenian statesman Cleisthenes introduced reforms that gave political power directly to the citizens. Athenian democracy — a word meaning 'rule by the people' — let citizens vote on laws and policy in a great assembly, serve on juries, and hold office by lottery. It was direct democracy, though limited to free adult male citizens.
Why it matters
Athens created the world's first democracy and gave us the very word. Its bold experiment in self-government by ordinary citizens has inspired democrats ever since, even though it excluded women, enslaved people, and foreigners.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Athenian Democracy · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Ancient Greece → — The Athenian invention of democracy