Charleston County Public Library

As gods among men, a history of the rich in the West, Guido Alfani

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 325-401) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

As gods among men

bibliography

Guido Alfani

a history of the rich in the West

"All human societies, from prehistory through to today, have been characterized by some degree of economic inequality. Arguably, complex societies would not have thrived if they had been unable to concentrate and redistribute resources effectively. We frequently talk about the top 5% or 1% today but, as Guido Alfani explains in this book, concerns about the rich and super-rich and their potential to influence contemporary politics and society are nothing new - just take the Medici family and Renaissance Tuscany as one example. The medieval theologian Nicole Oresme's fear of the super-rich individual acting "as God among men" resonates with much of what present-day economist Thomas Piketty cautioned against in his landmark Capital in the Twentieth Century. As Gods Among Men represents the first scholarly attempt to provide a general overview of role and significance of the rich and the super-rich in the long run of history. With a focus on the West, particularly Europe and North America, Alfani's research spans a thousand years of history. He draws from a wealth of comparative data, as well as insights gleaned from the latest research in economic history, sociology, and anthropology, to show how society's problematic relationship with the super-rich cannot be fully understood without a careful analysis of the ways in which they have built their enormous wealth, and how they have used that wealth to gain influence. Alfani highlights important aspects of their behavior, such as their attitudes toward saving and consumption, or their propensity to act as patrons of the arts and of the sciences or as benefactors of the weakest part of society, to build up a profile of the richest members of our society and to trace patterns throughout history, underlining elements of both continuity and change over the period"--, Provided by publisher

What is wealth, and how much is needed to be rich? -- Wealth concentration and the prevalence of the rich across history : an overview -- On aristocracy, new and past -- On innovation and technology -- On finance -- The curse of smaug : the saving and consumption habits of the rich -- Making it to the top : an overview -- Why wealth concentration can be a social problem : from Thomas Aquinas to Piketty -- Patrons, benefactors, donors -- The super-rich and politics -- The rich in times of crisis : from the black death to Covid-19