Public space

A public space such as Taksim Square in Istambul, Tahrir Square in Egypt, or Zuccotti Park in New York provides a forum and serves as a powerful focus for political activity.

Greece and Rome
The agora in ancient Greece and the forum in ancient Rome were central meeting places where the community interacted, and if democratic, made decisions as a body.

Use in Antiquity
The agora was the center of political and public life in Athens. It was a large open area surrounded by buildings of various functions. The agora was utilized for commerce, political, religious and military activity. Meetings were held four times per month to enact legislation, to hear embassies, and deal with defense of the city-state. In addition, some public forums to discuss ostracism were held in the agora. The law courts were located there, and anyone who happened to be in the agora when a case was being heard would probably have been able to view the spectacle, though only those adult male citizens appointed by lot would have been able to serve as jurors. The agora was further the location of a temporary theater and of burial sites