The Athenian democracy was more like an oligarchy. The vast majority of the population of Athens were not citizens. There was only like 10,000 citizens of Athens and it was based on how much land you owned or something like that. So it was like 10,000 of the wealthiest citizens of the city-state who actually got a vote in how things were done. It's actually pretty similar to how the government is run in America at the moment. When the elites talk about our democracy, they mean it literally. They don't see us commoners as citizens.
The Athenian democracy was more like an oligarchy. The vast majority of the population of Athens were not citizens. There was only like 10,000 citizens of Athens and it was based on how much land you owned or something like that. So it was like 10,000 of the wealthiest citizens of the city-state who actually got a vote in how things were done. It's actually pretty similar to how the government is run in America at the moment. When the elites talk about our democracy, they mean it literally. They don't see us commoners as citizens.