The origin of democracy is associated with the Greeks. Ancient Greek city-states, such as Athens, developed a system of government that allowed citizens to participate in decision-making through voting in public assemblies. This system was called "demokratia" which means "rule by the people" in Greek. Athenian democracy is considered one of the earliest forms of democracy in the world, where citizens had the right to vote and participate in the government, regardless of their social status or wealth. The principles of Greek democracy influenced later democracies around the world, making it an important development in human history.