The decades that followed be-
came known as the Golden Age of
Athenian
democracy,
during
which time Athens became the
leading city of Ancient Greece,
with its cultural achievements lay-
ing the foundations for Western
civilization.
Athenian democracy took the
form of a direct democracy, and it
had two distinguishing features:
the random selection of ordinary
citizens to fill the few existing
government administrative and
judicial offices, and a legislative
assembly consisting of all Athe-
nian citizens.
All eligible citizens were allowed
to speak and vote in the assembly,
which set the laws of the city
state.
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However, Athenian citizenship
excluded women, slaves, foreign-
ers, non-landowners, and men un-
der 20 years of age.