Debate on - french revolution laid the foundation of democracy

All western governments have had the same general outline since ancient Rome first composed itself of a limited aristocratic Council, a larger general Assembly, and an executive Consul and co-consul. The Assembly (US house of representatives, british house of commons) is the democratic element, and no world power is run with only an assembly. Pure democracy is an experiment that nation, especially France, has ever sustained for long. Most governments are representative republics. Switzerland has direct democracy but I'm not sure how exactly it works.