It all started long before the Greek agora. Even backward African tribes had their open area with the huts around it for that socialization, long before the Greeks were civilized.
it is actually more sophisticated a concept and exchange of ideas than just an open area around huts.
I have seen many of the ancient locals and their agoras. I have even seen their weekly “agora” where farmers bring their wares.
It is just as much a polical as commercial discourse.