Democracy originated from Greece. The concept of democracy was first introduced in Athens, Greece in the 5th century BC. The word "democracy" comes from the Greek words "demos" meaning "people" and "kratos" meaning "rule" or "power". Athenian democracy was a direct democracy where citizens gathered in assemblies to vote directly on laws and policies. Although Athenian democracy was limited to free male citizens, it provided the foundation for modern democratic systems. Today, democracy has become the most widely accepted form of government, with many countries adopting democratic principles and systems.