The ancient civilization recognized for its contributions to democracy and philosophy is Ancient Greece. Flourishing primarily during the 5th to 4th centuries BCE, it laid the foundational concepts of democracy, especially in the city-state of Athens. Citizens participated directly in decision-making, a revolutionary idea at the time. Furthermore, Ancient Greece was home to influential philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who explored fundamental questions about ethics, knowledge, and politics. Their thoughts have profoundly influenced Western philosophy and political theory, shaping concepts of citizenship and governance that resonate in modern democracies.