Cleisthenes and democracy

Cleisthenes was a member of the elite. He was very rich and a crafty politician. He was the only one to listen to the middle class. He got regular folks involved in governing. Citizens could participate but only 1/5 of the people were citizens. A citizen is a white male who owns land and was born in Athens. Athens practiced a direct democracy. In a direct democracy the state is ruled by its citizens. The rule is based on citizenship. Majority rule decides the votes. This is held in the agora. It was first practiced in Athens under Cleisthenes by 500 BCE.