Final answer:
Athenian democracy, the first known democracy in the world, appeared in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE. It allowed citizens to vote directly on laws and government matters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Athenian democracy, which is considered the first known democracy in the world, appeared in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE. Athens, the Greek city-state, implemented a system of direct democracy where citizens had the opportunity to vote directly on laws and government matters. This system was different from the indirect democracy found in empires like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, where rulers made decisions on behalf of the citizens.