As Gods Among Men: A History of the Rich in the West 
by Guido Alfani 
 
How the rich and the super-rich throughout Western history accumulated their wealth, behaved (or misbehaved) and helped (or didn’t help) their communities in times of crisis
 
The rich have always fascinated, sometimes in problematic ways. Medieval thinkers feared that the super-rich would act ‘as gods among men’; much more recently Thomas Piketty made wealth central to discussions of inequality. In this book, Guido Alfani offers a history of the rich and super-rich in the West, examining who they were, how they accumulated their wealth and what role they played in society.
 
Covering the last thousand years, with frequent incursions into antiquity, and integrating recent research on economic inequality, Alfani finds—despite the different paths to wealth in different eras—fundamental continuities in the behaviour of the rich and public attitudes towards wealth across Western history. His account offers a novel perspective on current debates about wealth and income disparity. Alfani argues that the position of the rich and super-rich in Western society has always been intrinsically fragile; their very presence has inspired social unease. In the Middle Ages, an excessive accumulation of wealth was considered sinful; the rich were expected not to appear to be wealthy. Eventually, the rich were deemed useful when they used their wealth to help their communities in times of crisis. Yet in the twenty-first century, Alfani points out, the rich and the super-rich—their wealth largely preserved through the Great Recession and COVID-19—have been exceptionally reluctant to contribute to the common good in times of crisis, rejecting even such stopgap measures as temporary tax increases. History suggests that this is a troubling development—for the rich, and for everyone else.
 
‘Guido Alfani has, more than anyone, expanded our knowledge of inequality trends to encompass preindustrial times. In this masterly book, he offers an insightful long-run perspective and fascinating lessons for the future. A must-read!’—Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century

‘Surveying the full sweep of Western history, Alfani explores how the rich have gained, used and sometimes lost their wealth, and how their fortunes shaped society. His masterful synthesis reveals the deep roots of current inequalities.’—Walter Scheidel, author of The Great Leveler

‘Here is the broadest history to date of how the very rich are different from us, and how we have reacted to them. Over the centuries, wealth and power shifted between heirs, entrepreneurs and political power brokers. Sometimes we held them in esteem, sometimes in contempt. Sometimes we resented their consumption, sometimes we resented their savings. Guido Alfani interprets it all creatively and plausibly.’—Peter H. Lindert, author of Making Social Spending Work
 
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