Aristocracy: A Very Short Introduction

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Aristocracies or nobilities dominated the social, economic, and institutional history of all European counties until only a few generations ago. The relics of their power, in traditions and behaviour, in architecture and the arts, are still all around us. This short introduction shows how ideas of aristocracy originated in ancient times, were transformed in the middle ages, and have only fallen apart over the last two centuries. The myths in which aristocracies have always sought to shroud themselves are stripped away, but the true sources of their enduring power are also revealed. Their outlook and behaviour affected the rest of society in innumerable and sometimes surprising ways, but perhaps most surprising was the way in which a centuries-old aristocratic hegemony crumbled away over the last two hundred years. In this Very Short IntroductionWilliam Doyle considers why this happend and what remains today. Readership : General readers, students of history, comparative history, and historians. Special Features Examines the definitions, structure, and behaviour of aristocracies, challenging some of the myths about them. Analyses their origins and considers the wider impact of their behaviour. Looks at the continuing influence of class to this day. About the AuthorWilliam Doyle is Emeritus Professor of History and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, where he taught from 1986 to 2008. He had previously taught at the Universities of York and Nottingham and has held visiting appointments at Oxford, Cambridge and institutions in France and the USA. He has written a dozen books, mainly on eighteenth century history, and is a Fellow of the British Academy.