The origins of democracy in Athens trace back to the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, when the city-state transitioned from aristocratic rule to a system that gave citizens a direct voice in governance. Early reforms began under the lawmaker Solon around 594 BCE, who introduced measures to reduce the power of the nobility, ease debt burdens on common people, and grant more citizens a role in political life. Later, Cleisthenes, often called the “Father of Athenian Democracy,” implemented sweeping changes around 508 BCE, reorganizing the population into new tribes to break the influence of powerful families and establishing the ekklesia (assembly) where all male citizens could vote on laws and policies. In this direct democracy, citizens participated not through elected representatives but by speaking and voting themselves on important issues, with public officials often chosen by lottery to ensure fairness. While this system excluded women, slaves, and foreigners, it was revolutionary for its time, laying the groundwork for political equality among citizens and influencing democratic thought for millennia. The Athenian model, though imperfect, became a powerful example of shared governance and civic participation that continues to inspire modern democratic ideals.