What was the purpose of the aristocracy?

aristocracy, government by a relatively small privileged class or by a minority consisting of those presumed to be best qualified to rule. 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.

Does the British aristocracy still have power?

According to a 2010 report for Country Life, a third of Britain’s land still belongs to the aristocracy. Notwithstanding the extinction of some titles and the sales of land early in the 20th century, the lists of major aristocratic landowners in 1872 and in 2001 remain remarkably similar.

What role did the aristocracy play in politics?

In practice, aristocracy often leads to hereditary government, after which the hereditary monarch appoints officers as they see fit. In modern times, aristocracy was usually seen as rule by a privileged group, the aristocratic class, and has since been contrasted with democracy.

How were the aristocracy families connected?

The families of the aristocratic class were often connected by ties of marriage. The alternatives of the aristocracy are oligarchy or mediocrity which is a form of power in which power effectively rests with a small number of people.

How did the British aristocracy lose their money?

These taxes made the maintenance of family-owned country estates extremely difficult and many of them were donated to the National Trust in order to preserve their essential character. Without their estates the aristocracy lost their primary source of income, which was rent from their land.

What is aristocracy in history?

Aristocracy is a kind of government that puts power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class. In Ancient Greek, the word aristocracy means the rule of the best, but it has come to be linked with rule by Nobility. In history, most aristocracies are hereditary.

What was the British aristocracy like before WW1?

Before the outbreak of World War 1, the British aristocracy owned a disproportionate amount of property and land. Far from being resented, many aristos demonstrated a patriarchal duty of care to their tenants, watching over them protectively in good times and bad (there were few notorious exceptions).

What is the purpose of the aristocracy?

There’s no real purpose, at least not today in any meaningful terms. The aristocracy (a.k.a. the peerage) just exists because of historical development. A lot of people try to curry favour with them, just as many try to get away from them.

What are the different ranks in the British aristocracy?

British Aristocracy Ranks. For common people, British nobility consists of peers and families. Members of the hereditary peerage or aristocracy carry titles of Duke (Duchess); Marquess (Marchioness); Earl (Countess); Viscount (Viscountess) and Baron (Baroness). Most titles are derived from place names while some were from surnames also.

Is aristocracy just or justified?

Neither of these is just. 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.