Yes really, it was considered a failure despite those well-documented centuries.
“Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
That was also the widespread belief about democracy until the 1700s.
Not really, Greece practiced democracy for hundreds of years and it was pretty well documented.
Pah, Greek democracy was interesting, but very limited given how narrow their Deimos was with women, foreign residents and slaves not counting.
Yes really, it was considered a failure despite those well-documented centuries.
— James Madison, Federalist Papers 10 & 51