1 From Oligarchy to Democracy
Between 800 and 700 BC, Athens (like all the other city-states in Greece and around the known world) was ruled by aristocrats (wealthy land owners). To be more precise Athens was an oligarchy (rule by the few), i.e. the masses were ruled by the wealthiest families. The great mass of people—farmers, merchants, fishermen and artisans—were expected to obey whatever rules the wealthy imposed upon them.
In 594 BC, Athens was falling apart because of the huge gap between rich and poor. In order to survive, poorer citizens borrowed money from wealthy families. People who couldn't repay their loans were forced to sell all their land and even themselves (and their families) into slavery. Debt slavery created such massive social inequality and anger between the rich and the poor that Athens was heading toward either civil war or the emergence of a tyrant (that'd destroy the city-state of Athens).
2 Solon's Reforms
For this reason rich and poor citizens chose a reform-minded Athenian citizen named Solon to fix the mess. He was a respected poet and politician who belonged to what people today might call a middle-class. Solon had a reputation for fairness and integrity. Thus, Athens made him archon (in ancient Greek literally means "ruler") and for a period of one year. During his time as archon, he passed a series of reforms saving Athens from civil war and paving the way to democracy.
With that said, the wealthiest families continued to control the political decision-making process. The only thing Solon's reforms meant was that poorer citizens were at least listened to. Solon stepped down in 593 BC and Athens returned (at least for a time) to stability.
However, Solon's reforms didn't permanently solve Athens' problems; this is because within 30 years of his stepping down three powerful rival factions emerged fighting one another for control of Athens. This struggle led to several leaders the Athenians called tyrants to take control of the city. Tyrants are absolute dictators who don't share power.
3 Cleisthenes: Father of Democracy
In 508 BC, a reformer named Cleisthenes appeared on the political scene. He was from a wealthy land owning family. But he understood the true power in Athens wasn't with the land owners but with the farmers, labourers, fishermen, artisans and merchants. In other words, the people of Athens is where the city's future lay. Cleisthenes thus won power by promising the people that if they backed him he would continue to build on Solon's reforms.
The people rallied to Cleisthenes and he made it so every male citizen, regardless of wealth, could vote for any future laws or policies or wars, etc. that affected Athens. The most important thing to remember is he (being a land owner) reduced the influence of his own social class to share power with the average Athenian citizen. For this reason Cleisthenes is referred to as the "father of democracy" because he established a political system where all Athenians governed together (collectively).
4 Democratic Institutions
Athenian democracy worked through several key institutions:
This was where all male citizens could gather to debate and vote on important issues. Any citizen could speak and propose new laws. Major decisions required a majority vote of those present.
This body prepared the agenda for the Assembly meetings. Members were chosen by lottery from among all citizens, ensuring that ordinary people, not just the wealthy, could participate in government.
Legal cases were decided by juries of ordinary citizens, not by judges appointed by rulers. This meant that justice came from the people themselves, not from those in power.
5 Athenian Democracy Changed the Western World
Athenian democracy introduced ideas that seem obvious to Canadians today but were shocking 2,500 years ago. Remember, everywhere else in the world, people lived under the absolute rule of kings, pharaohs, oligarchies, tyrants or emperors. Athens proved that ordinary people could think for themselves and make good decisions about their own lives.
Athens invented the radical idea that all citizens should have an equal say in government, regardless of how much money they had. A poor farmer's vote counted just as much as a wealthy merchant's vote. This was unheard of in a world where birth and wealth determined everything.
In Athens, important decisions were made through open discussion where anyone could speak their mind. Citizens were expected to use reason and evidence to convince others, not threats or violence. This is why Canadians today can criticize the prime minister or any member of government without fear—it started in Athens.
When Canadians see courtroom scenes in movies where ordinary citizens decide someone's guilt or innocence, they're seeing an Athenian invention. Before Athens, kings and their appointed judges decided legal cases. Athens said that justice should come from the people themselves.
Athenian leaders could be voted out of office without violence or revolution. This might seem normal to someone living in a democracy like Canada's in the 21st century, but most of human history has been filled with wars and assassinations when power changed hands. Athens showed that people could disagree and still live together peacefully.
6 Democracy's Expanding Promise
When Athens first created democracy, participation was limited to adult male citizens. While this seems limited by today's standards, it's important to remember that Athens was taking the West's first steps toward self-government. At the time, the rest of the world was ruled by kings and emperors who shared power with no one. Athens was the only place on Earth where even ordinary people could vote for and govern themselves.
More importantly, Athens established the principles that would eventually expand to include more and more people. The idea that humans should govern themselves through reason and debate, rather than being ruled by force, was Athens' gift to the world. Over the following centuries, these democratic principles gradually spread first to include women and then eventually to include people of all backgrounds, e.g. in Canada a citizen from another country has rights and is protected and considered equal under Canadian law.