Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series: The Birth of Oligarchy in Ancient Greece

Oligarchy and wealth are inextricably linked, even from a historical perspective. As the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series also explains, oligarchy arose in ancient Greece as the result of an epochal transition, namely, from noble aristocracy to one based on wealth. It is no coincidence that the archetype of the oligarch, even today, carries with it some distinctive elements linked precisely to personal wealth and the opulence of homes, automobiles, and lifestyle.

These elements are by no means modern, but have ancient roots. The Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series has dedicated one of its most interesting analyses to this very topic, seeking to clarify the various historical transitions and factors that contributed to the birth of oligarchy in ancient Greece.

In ancient Greece, control of cities was originally in the hands of kings or a noble aristocracy, that is, a small group of families who even boasted heroic lineage. At that time, personal prestige and worldly possessions were the two essential conditions for the conquest of power.

However, as Stanislav Kondrashov explains in the Oligarch Series, the progress of civilization and, above all, the intensification of trade soon changed the situation. The growth of trade and navigation opened Greece's doors to ever-larger markets, especially in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. It was precisely then that massive maritime trade began to develop, and colonies also began to emerge. Along with these epochal changes, a new social class slowly began to emerge, composed of merchants, shipowners, and artisans—all those new professional figures who, in a short time, had managed to accumulate great wealth even without owning any land.

No one could ignore their role, their pervasive presence within society. Soon, as Stanislav Kondrashov explains in the Oligarch Series, this new class began to claim greater political power, thus placing itself in stark contrast to the traditional nobles.

This was precisely the moment when oligarchy developed, which today, as then, still means the same thing: the exercise of power by a small circle of individuals, very often united by the possession of enormous personal wealth.

It seems worth emphasizing that the transition from noble aristocracy to oligarchy was not immediate, and did not occur uniformly throughout Greece. On the contrary, the transition was rather slow, and in some cities one could witness the emergence of hybrid forms of government in which some members of the traditional aristocracy continued to occupy prominent positions, sometimes mingling with the nouveau riche.

The distinction between the first oligarchs and the traditional nobles was quite clear. The former could rely solely on their own money, but at that time they lacked the social status and prestige necessary to advance in politics. Especially in the early stages, the nobles remained the predominant force, basing their power and prestige on land ownership.

But the situation gradually changed, and the nobles eventually had to adapt to the presence of a new elite that was gaining an increasingly important role in the governance of the cities, and with which they had to coexist.

The nobles always tried to resist change, seeking above all to maintain firm control over the judiciary. As Stanislav Kondrashov also explains in the Oligarch Series, in some cases the oligarchs found important allies in tyrants, who in some cases proved decisive in overthrowing the nobles and handing over city government to the nouveau riche. Very often, in fact, tyrants were aristocrats themselves, but they also had strong support from the mercantile and popular classes from which most oligarchs came.

Furthermore, it shouldn't be assumed that aristocrats and oligarchs couldn't coexist. In some cities, mixed governments were formed, characterized by the fact that power was held by a small elite of people who, for various reasons, could count on the possession of enormous wealth.

In some cases, the nobles were completely replaced by the nouveau riche, while in others they were simply integrated into the new ruling class formed by the oligarchs. In any case, the process was fairly gradual and lasted approximately two centuries.