What is an aristocratic oligarchy?

What is an aristocratic oligarchy?

Oligarchy is the rule of the few in a generic way whereas aristocracy is a form of governance where administration or power is in the hands of a special class of people having privileges. Oligarchy is seen as a rule of the powerful and corrupt officials whereas aristocracy is considered a refined version of oligarchy.

What is aristocracy ancient Greece?

As conceived by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 bce), aristocracy means the rule of the few—the morally and intellectually superior—governing in the interest of all.

What is the definition of oligarchy in ancient Greece?

Oligarchy. In an oligarchy government, the power to make decisions is in the hands of two to three rich men, usually called oligarchs or kings. The word oligarchy comes from the Greek root words oligos (which means “few”) and arkhein (which means “rule”).

What is an ancient example of oligarchy?

In Ancient Athens, which is a classic example of an oligarchy, the top government positions were only held by the elite class, or the aristocracy. The city-states of Megara and Thebes were other city-states who were known to have an oligarchy.

Is aristocracy a good thing?

There is really only one benefit to aristocracy: The best and the brightest will rule the state or society. People in civil society might be legally and morally equal to one another, but this does not imply that they have equal and identical rights to income, political power or social prestige.

Where did the aristocracy come from?

2 Ancient-world Origins The word ‘aristocracy’ is of ancient Greek origin and signifies the ‘rule of the best. ‘ In Homeric times ‘the best’ signified chiefs of the noble families who pretended to share with the king a descent from the gods, and were also prominent by their wealth and personal prowess.

What did the aristocracy do?

An aristocracy is a form of government where a small group of elites rule. Aristocrats, or the ruling elites, tend to enjoy both social and economic prestige as well as political power. In some cases, one can be promoted into the aristocracy through service to a monarch.

What were the main features of aristocracy in Europe?

Answer: (1) They were the dominant class socially, economically and politically. (2) They were connected by ties of marriage. (3) They owned large estates in the countryside.

What is aristocratic rule?

Key Takeaways: Aristocracy Aristocracy is a form of government in which political power is held by a select few privileged people called aristocrats or nobles. Coming from a Greek word meaning “rule by the best,” aristocrats are considered the most qualified to rule because of their moral and intellectual superiority.

Was Sparta a oligarchy?

The Spartan government was an oligarchy, where 28 rich men could overrule the majority of the people.

Who first used oligarchy?

Aristotle pioneered the use of the term as meaning rule by the rich, for which another term commonly used today is plutocracy. In the early 20th century Robert Michels developed the theory that democracies, like all large organizations, have a tendency to turn into oligarchies.

Why is the aristocracy important?

Aristocracy is justified because the purpose of civil society is to promote nobility, the highest level of virtue possible to humans. Therefore, the best, those who have become habituated to noble and good acts through long experience, should rule. Democracy is the rule of the average, of mediocrity, of the mob.