Final answer:
Athenian democracy, which developed in the 5th century BCE, was a system of direct democracy only inclusive of adult, land-owning men. It is famously seen as the first democracy in the world and set the stage for later democratic governance systems, despite its limited inclusivity by today's standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Athenian Democracy
The type of government created in Athens that was called democracy is considered the world's first known democracy, developing around the 5th century BCE. The Athenian democracy was a system of direct democracy, where participating citizens could vote directly on legislation and executive actions. Notably, this historical democracy was only inclusive of adult, land-owning men, which was a fraction of the total population but was still groundbreaking for its time. Major democratic reforms in Athens began with Solon around 600 BCE, followed by the revolutionary changes under Cleisthenes in 508 BCE who restructured the government allowing greater citizen participation, including the poorer male population. Athens' democratic system under the leadership of Pericles reached its zenith as the city also expanded its influence across the Mediterranean.
During the Athenian democracy, key establishments of democratic rule such as the Assembly of the People were the platforms where adult male citizens made decisions on matters of the state. It was a patriarchy striving for egalitarian politics within its own definitions of citizenship, offering governmental resources to encourage a degree of inclusivity. Despite its limitations by modern standards, the Athenian democracy paved the way for modern democratic systems.