State · 508/507 BCE
Democracy in Athens
Athens (Greece)
The reformer Cleisthenes reorganised the citizens of Athens into ten tribes based on where they lived rather than on family, created a Council of 500 chosen by lot, and strengthened the Assembly, where any adult male citizen could speak and vote. He called the system isonomia, equality before the law.
Why it mattered
Athens became the best-known early democracy, where ordinary citizens debated and decided policy directly, though women, slaves and foreign residents were excluded, so voters were a minority of adults.
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