What was the direct cause of athens' gradual move toward democrary?

Answer 1

The Athenian aristocracy was abusing its power, so a tyrant was installed to give a degree of equality. When people turned away from the tyrant, the aristocracy tried to take over power again but was forestalled by Cleisthenes in 508 BCE introducing a limited democracy. This was suspended during the Persian War as the aristocrats were best qualified to run the war, but it was reinstated in 460 BCE by Ephialtes. He was murdered for this but his deputy Pericles kept it going and then radicalised it with total power to the popular assembly.

Answer 2

In ancient times, the direct cause of Athens' gradual move toward democracy was the abuse of power, or the threat of such, by various leaders in Athenian government. Responding to such abuses, while aware of the threat of it in any absolutist government, various Athenian leaders contributed to the formation of what is generally considered to be the world's first democracy.

Answer 3

It was started as a limited democracy by Cleisthenes in 507 BCE after the tyrants were expelled, went back to an Oligarchy to face the Persian invasion in the 480s, and was restored to democracy by Ephialtes in 462 BCE. The oligarch assassinated him, but his deputy Pericles took over and arranged the expulsion of conservatives in the later 440s, introducing direct democracy ruled by the people's assembly.