Final answer:
Ancient Greek city-states, such as Athens, applied democracy through direct voting on laws and government matters. However, democracy was limited to adult male citizens, and decisions were made by a small number of participants in the Athenian Assembly.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Greece, the city-state of Athens applied democracy through a system of three branches of government. One of these branches was direct democracy, in which citizens directly voted on laws and government matters. However, not all individuals were eligible to vote, and it is estimated that only about 15% of the citizens were eligible.
Democracy in Athens was limited in several ways. Firstly, only adult male citizens were allowed to participate in the government, excluding women, enslaved people, and foreign residents. Additionally, decisions were made by the Athenian Assembly, which had a maximum of 6,000 participants, limiting the number of citizens who could have a direct impact on decision-making. Lastly, while Athens had a functioning direct democracy, it was not a modern republic where citizens vote for representatives.