How do you define aristocracy?

Question

And how can a family gain this rang of nobility? How long does it take and why?

Answer 1

Literally it means 'power in the hands of the best', from Greek. In western Europe it has come to mean a class of titled and landed nobles who had a large share, if not the largest share, in the governing of their states/countries. In the countries where titles have been perpetuated but no new ones created, this class is presumably similar to what it was 100 or 200 years ago (though many will be poorer).

In the UK the apex of the aristocracy, the peerage, has been transformed by the different backgrounds of its new members over the past several decades, especially since the 1950s. In theory any peer is still an aristocrat, but the TV producers and presenters, for example, who now enjoy peerages are not identifiable as aristocracy in the traditional sense.

As for how a family, as opposed to an individual, reaches this status, you would need money, land, the passage of time (so you're not just nouveau riche) and preferably a title, but hereditary ones are no longer created. The fact is the real 'aristocratic families' in the future are likely to be the same ones who already exist.

Answer 2

If your family is aristocratic they have been for what- 500 or more years.

Just so you know, you can only buy titles nowadays and you can still be rich and not be nobility. That is just as good. In fact, Bill Gates is the richest man in the world-- born in the middle class- and he is not nobility. He is richer than all the aristocrats and socialites! However, you can be a socilalite if you are rich enough.

Answer 3

I define it as a family that is living of the hard work of an ancestor. Most of the time it is a term reserved for the richest of the rich......and when you do research, most of the time you will find that the wealth was accumulated by some wrong doing.....I.E rockafella, hearst. I heard a statistic, I cannot remember the publications name but it stated that in the USA 97% of the wealth is controlled by 7% of the population.. most aristocrats are like the pathetic characters like paris hilton.....does wealth make everyone an idiot.

Answer 4

Affluence of a certain family, heritage or bloodline which is continued by each offspring ideally to better the nation or state. A very, VERY wealthy family.

Answer 5

Old money and rubbing elbows with the right people.

Answer 6

when people have lots of [old] money and have titles like Lord, Lady, duke, duchess, etc. you get lots and lots and lots of money, the monarch has to award you one of those titles.

Answer 7

See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy

Answer 8

Earn yourself a few billions and then get into Politics!!!!!

Answer 9

blood line