As Gods Among Men

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All human societies, from prehistory through to today, have been characterized by some degree of economic inequality. Complex societies would not have thrived if they had been unable to concentrate and redistribute resources effectively. Concerns about the rich and super-rich and their potential to influence politics and society are not new, as exemplified by the Medici family in Renaissance Tuscany. The medieval theologian Nicole Oresme's fear of the super-rich individual acting "as God among men" resonates with contemporary economic discussions. As Gods Among Men represents a scholarly attempt to provide a general overview of the role and significance of the rich and the super-rich throughout history. Focusing on the West, particularly Europe and North America, Alfani's research spans a thousand years. He draws from a wealth of comparative data and insights from economic history, sociology, and anthropology to show that society's problematic relationship with the super-rich cannot be fully understood without analyzing how they have built their wealth and used it to gain influence. Alfani highlights important aspects of their behavior, such as attitudes toward saving and consumption, and their roles as patrons of the arts and sciences or benefactors of the weakest members of society, to build a profile of the richest individuals and trace patterns throughout history, underlining elements of both continuity and change.