What type of democracy was present in Greece?

Ancient Greece is primarily known for its development of direct democracy, particularly in Athens during the 5th century BCE. In this system, citizens participated directly in decision-making and legislative processes, such as voting on laws and policies in assemblies. However, this form of democracy was limited to free male citizens, excluding women, slaves, and foreigners, which significantly narrowed the definition of who qualified as a "citizen." This direct democracy laid the groundwork for modern democratic systems, despite its limitations.