The ancient civilization known for its development of democracy is Athens, a city-state in ancient Greece. This form of governance emerged around the 5th century BCE, where citizens were allowed to participate directly in decision-making processes. Athenian democracy was unique in featuring mechanisms like sortition and assembly, enabling a system where public policy was determined more by collective input rather than by a ruling class. This democratized political engagement laid the foundations for modern democratic systems, influencing various governments throughout history in their pursuit of civic participation and representation.