The ancient society known for its development of democracy is ancient Athens. Emerging around the 5th century BC, Athens is often regarded as the birthplace of democracy, where eligible citizens participated directly in decision-making regarding laws and policies. This system allowed for active civic engagement, significantly differing from other forms of governance of the time, such as monarchy or oligarchy. The Athenian democracy included various institutions like the Assembly (Ekklesia) and the Council of 500 (Boule), where citizens could debate and vote on matters. These principles of democratic governance have influenced political thought and systems around the world to this day.