Democracy as a political system first originated in ancient Greece, particularly in the city-state of Athens in the 5th century BC. It was used as a form of government in which power and decision-making were vested in the hands of the citizens through a system of direct democracy. The citizens of Athens were able to participate in the decision-making process, vote on laws, and hold public officials accountable through a system of public assemblies and courts. This early form of democracy laid the foundation for the development of democratic systems of government in various parts of the world.
