Ess Bet Group: Aristocracy
Ess Bet Group: Aristocracy
Ess Bet Group: Aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy comes from the Greek word “Aristokratia” which means Rule of the Best.
Aristokratia, from the root words Aristos, which means “Excellent”, and Kratos, which means “Power”.
Aristocrats usually have a specific honorary title, such as Duke, Duchess, Baron, Baroness, etc…,
They typically own land/s, and traditionally have more money and power than the other people of the
society. They are basically the best and noblest one.
In addition, children’s usually inherit aristocratic status from their parents; and in some cases, one can
be promoted into the aristocracy through service to a monarch.
Modern students usually associate aristocrats with a monarchy, or a government ruled by a single
person. Often this position is hereditary and passes through a family lineage over time; Nevertheless, in
some places aristocrats ruled without a monarchy.
Examples of Aristocracy
Ancient Greece
Aristocracies have been used as a form of government since the earliest days of recorded history. In
Ancient Greece, a polis, or a Greek city-state, could be governed by a monarch, an aristocracy, or by a
democracy, a form of government where citizens create laws for themselves.
From 621 to 508 B.C.E., Athens, one of the largest city-states in Greece, was governed by a series of
aristocratic leaders. Aristocrats seized the property of small landowners and created new harsh laws for
citizens. As a result, many Athenian families were exiled and their land mortgaged to wealthy
aristocrats. Finally in 594 B.C.E., a poet and member of the aristocracy named Solon began openly
campaigning against the unjust behaviors of his fellow aristocrats. He was elected archon, or chief
magistrate of the polis. Solon immediately freed those who had been imprisoned for debt and recalled
those who had been exiled. He also allowed even the very poorest Greek citizens to vote on the laws of
the polis.
Unfortunately, Solon' reforms were removed by the aristocrats who succeeded him as archon.
Throughout the history of Athens, we can observe one of the major problems with an aristocracy as a
form of government. With a benevolent aristocracy, the people are well cared for and prosperous;
however, with a greedy aristocracy in power, the people may lose their homes and property, or their
lives.
Shang and Zhou Dynasties in China
In China, we can find another example of an aristocratic society. From 1500 to 1050 B.C.E., the Shang
dynasty (a sequence of rulers from the same family), ruled with the help of aristocrats. During the Shang
dynasty, the aristocrats owned slaves, many of whom were captured in battle. Chinese slaves and
farmers were usually held accountable to the aristocrat who owned them or their land.
In 1050 B.C.E., the Zhou people rose up against the Shang and displaced them as the ruling elites. The
Zhou dynasty was highly aristocratic, and each person was placed in a highly specialized ranking. The
King was considered to be the highest person in power, followed by rulers of smaller states within China,
then by men who served either as military commanders or as civil advisers, and finally by ordinary
people like farmers and traders. Generally, your societal status was passed down to you by your father.
If your father was lucky enough to be born into power, then you would inherit that power and status.
contrast, if you were born into a farming or trading family, you would never be able to rise in power
regardless of your abilities or dreams.
The Zhou dynasty lost power as a result of this rigidly defined society. Many of the Zhou aristocrats who
ruled their own districts grew powerful enough to challenge the Zhou ruling family. Each of these
aristocrats had their own administrative and military staff, and in 771 B.C.E. the Zhou king was killed in
battle by an aristocrat and his army. Although his son inherited the throne, the Zhou ruling family never
regained true power. The Zhou aristocrats present another opportunity for understanding a problem
surrounding aristocracies. When aristocrats grow too powerful, it can be difficult for even a strong
monarch to combat that power.