Answer:The establishment of democracy in Athens was a gradual process that spanned several centuries and involved various social, political, and economic factors. Here are some key events and developments that contributed to its formation:Early Greek City-States: * Monarchy: The earliest form of government in ancient Greece was monarchy, where a single ruler held supreme power. * Aristocracy: Over time, power shifted from the monarch to a small group of wealthy and influential families known as aristocrats.Rise of the Assembly: * Popular Participation: As trade and commerce expanded, the middle class (known as the demos) gained economic power and demanded a greater say in government. * Formation of the Assembly: The assembly, composed of all male citizens over the age of 18, was established to give the people a voice in decision-making.Reforms of Solon and Cleisthenes: * Solon's Reforms (c. 594 BCE): Solon, an Athenian statesman, introduced several reforms to address social and economic inequality. He divided citizens into four classes based on wealth and introduced laws to protect the rights of the common people. * Cleisthenes' Reforms (c. 508 BCE): Cleisthenes, another Athenian statesman, further expanded democracy by dividing Athens into ten tribes based on geographic location rather than social status. He also established a system of random selection for public offices, known as sortition, to ensure that power was not concentrated in the hands of a few.Golden Age of Athens: * Pericles' Leadership: During the Golden Age of Athens (c. 460-430 BCE), Pericles, a statesman and general, strengthened democracy by expanding the powers of the assembly and paying citizens to participate in government. * Direct Democracy: Under Pericles' rule, Athens developed a system of direct democracy, where citizens voted directly on laws and policies rather than electing representatives.It is important to note that Athenian democracy was not without its limitations. It excluded women, slaves, and foreigners, and was based on the concept of citizenship, which was restricted to a small minority of the population. Nevertheless, the Athenian experiment in democracy had a profound influence on Western political thought and continues to inspire democratic movements around the world.