plutocracy etymology

Etymology

• From Late Latin plūtocrātia, from Ancient Greek πλουτοκρατία (ploutokratia) "rule by the wealthy," from πλοῦτος (ploutos) "wealth" + κράτος (kratos_) "power, rule"

Meaning and Origin

• A government or society in which the wealthiest citizens have the greatest influence or control over public affairs.
• The origin of the term ploutokratia can be traced back to ancient Greece. In the 5th century BCE, the Greek historian Herodotus used the term to describe the government of the state of Lydia in Asia Minor. Herodotus noted that Lydia was ruled by a wealthy king and a group of wealthy nobles who controlled the state's finances and made decisions about public policy.
• The term ploutokratia was later used by other Greek philosophers and historians to describe governments in which the wealthy had a disproportionate amount of power. Plato, for example, argued that plutocracies were inherently unstable and likely to lead to tyranny.
• The term plutocracy was introduced into English in the 16th century. It was first used to describe the government of the Italian city-state of Venice, which was ruled by a wealthy merchant class. In the 19th century, the term was used to describe the governments of a number of European countries, including Great Britain and France.
• Today, the term plutocracy is used to describe any government or society in which the wealthy have a disproportionate amount of power. Plutocracies are often seen as being unjust and undemocratic, as they give the wealthy a privileged position in society.

plutocracy relate terms

• plutarchy

  Etymology The term plutarchy is derived from the Greek word πλουταρχία plo

• Pluto

  Etymology The name Pluto derives from the Greek god of the underworld Plouton which

• Pluto

  Etymology The name Pluto derives from the Greek god of the underworld Plouton which

• Hades

  Etymology The name Hades derives from the Greek word Haides which originally meant th

• touch

  Etymology Middle English touchin from Old French toucher from Latin tangere meanin

• divine

  Etymology The word divine comes from the Latin word divus meaning god or godlike

• chicken

  Etymology The word chicken originates from the Old English word cicen which in turn

• remember

  Etymology The word remember comes from the Old French remembrer which is derived fro

• redeem

  Etymology The word redeem comes from the Latin word redimere which means to buy bac

• militia

  Etymology The word militia derives from the Latin noun miles meaning soldier whi

• miasma

  Etymology Ancient Greek μίασμα miasma meaning pollution defilement or

• time

  Etymology Old English tîma time period hour West Germanic tîmon Proto Germanic

• sober

  Etymology Late 14th century from Middle English sobur from Old French sobre from Lat

• surmise

  Etymology Old French surmiser Late Latin supermisare to think over Latin supe