![]() In ancient Greek and Roman society, aristocrats were commanders who embarked upon military conquests. What Does It Mean to Be an Aristocrat?Īt different times and different cultures, aristocrats exact roles in society have changed, but suffice it to say that these are the people who have the most power, money, and attention. For this reason, many argue that even in democratic countries like the U.S., these rulers can be considered modern-day examples of aristocrats. While some are first-generation, self-made success stories, many of the ruling class are descendants of the historically wealthy. Today, there are both titled aristocrats and people who have money and extreme levels of privilege in society. Some, but not all, have governmental authority as well. There are plenty of celebrities who meet the definition of an aristocrat, but there are also less-known royals in countries like Britain, Denmark, Japan, and Jordan where individuals of noble birth have at least a title and a figurehead role. Modern aristocracy has more to do with status than it does with simply having money. The ability for everyone from athletes and celebrities to Nobel Prize-winners to reach some level of aristocracy shows how the definition of aristocracy has transformed. Examples of this include Sir Elton John and Dame Helen Mirren. In addition to these examples, modern-day aristocrats commonly bestow titles of nobility on notable members of society, making them noble too. Credit: Dea/Biblioteca Ambrosiana/De Agostini/Getty Images Mid-19th century costumes of the Chinese aristocracy, engraving from L’album, giornale letterario e di belle arti, October 2, 1841, Year 8. Aristocracy became tied to titles, such as Lord, Lady, Sir, and Knight, all of which had to do with both wealth and noble bloodlines. These began when the wealthy few in feudal societies became the ruling class. Modern-Day AristocraciesĬurrently, the closest thing we have to the dictionary definition of aristocrats are the modern vestiges of ancient monarchies that exist in Europe. In contrast, poorer members of society could not do this, thus perpetuating the aristocracy. Most notably, even in aristocratic societies where there was some alternatively structured form of government, people with the most money could either buy political offices outright or had the means to run for office. Often, these “prerequisites” were deemed necessary for holding any form of political or social power. A person who was wealthy enough could literally build a small economy and government on their own land, meaning that their word became law because of that level of control.Ī common feature of aristocratic societies is a socioeconomic factor such as being of a certain religion, bloodline, or economic status. In many ancient aristocracies, owning land meant one could also enslave people and control military power by employing mercenaries. Photo Courtesy: Paul Bradbury/Getty Images In both of these societies, the wealthiest people controlled the allotment of land, the law, and the government. When India used caste systems, Brahmans and other high-ranking castes were also aristocrats. The feudal systems that existed in much of Europe in the Middle Ages are examples of aristocracies. Furthermore, they believed it was right that these rulers pass their money and power to their descendants or to other wealthy people. Throughout history, many believed that the rich were blessed by God, and ancient civilizations even believed that the mightiest men with the most military prowess were gods incarnate. However, in reality, these folks often represented just a fraction of the population. ![]() ![]() What Is Aristocracy & What Are Features of an Aristocratic Government?Īristocratic governments are named after Aristotle, the Greek philosopher who came up with the idea, which posits that the wealthiest, or most beloved, members of society are the “best” people in society and, therefore, should be rulers.
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