The History of Democracy

Democracy means 'rule by the people.' It is a system of government where citizens have a say in how their country is run. The idea of democracy began in ancient Athens, Greece, over 2,500 years ago. Since then, the idea has spread around the world. Today, many countries are democracies. The road to democracy has been long, with many struggles and setbacks, but the belief that ordinary people should have a voice in government has never gone away.

Democracy in Ancient Greece

The city-state of Athens created one of the first democracies around 500 BCE. Male citizens could vote directly on laws and important decisions. They gathered in a big open space to debate and vote. Not everyone could participate, though. Women, enslaved people, and foreigners could not vote. It was not a perfect system, but it was a revolutionary idea. The Greeks showed the world that ordinary people could govern themselves.

Democracy Spreads Around the World

After Athens, the idea of democracy faded for many centuries. Kings and emperors ruled most of the world. But during the Enlightenment, thinkers revived the idea. The American Revolution created a democratic republic in 1776. The French Revolution tried to do the same. Over the next two centuries, more and more countries became democracies. Women won the right to vote in many countries in the 1900s. Today, democracy is still growing and changing around the world.

Fun Facts

• In ancient Athens, citizens could vote to banish someone from the city for ten years. This was called 'ostracism.'
• New Zealand was the first country to give all women the right to vote, in 1893.
• The word 'democracy' comes from two Greek words: 'demos' meaning people and 'kratos' meaning power.

Did You Know?

In ancient Athens, government officials were sometimes chosen by lottery instead of by voting. Athenians believed this was fairer because it gave everyone an equal chance to serve.