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Offers a sweeping, entertaining journey through the real power structures of world history
Five Thousand Years of Monarchy challenges everything you thought you knew about political history. With wit, clarity, and a deep command of historical detail, Michael Arnheim reframes five millennia of global governance through a strikingly original lens: the idea that every government, from ancient Sumer to modern China, is either a monarchy or an oligarchy—regardless of its name or apparent ideology. This provocative framework reveals insights into some of history's greatest puzzles and personalities, from the Roman emperors to Castro's Cuba, Augustus to Queen Victoria, and from Louis XVI's missed opportunity to the untold powers of King Philip II.
Drawing on lively anecdotes, surprising facts, and colorful historical vignettes, Arnheim brings the power struggles of the past vividly to life. Why was Imperial China more stable than any modern democracy? Could World War I have been avoided by more autocracy? And why are aristocracies more hostile to monarchs than revolutions ever were? Engaging, opinionated, and highly readable, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy offers a powerful reminder that what really matters in politics isn't titles or constitutions—it's who holds the power, and how.
Presenting a bold and original reinterpretation of world history through the lens of power structure, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy:
Distills all governments—ancient and modern—into just two essential types: monarchy or oligarchy
Provides a global scope, covering rulers and regimes from every major civilization
Reveals little-known historical facts, such as King Philip II of Spain's reign as King of England
Offers original, counterintuitive takes on major events such as the French Revolution and World War I
Explores the surprising longevity and success of the Roman and Chinese empires
Challenges conventional narratives and political assumptions with evidence-based analysis
Written in an engaging, accessible, and often humorous style, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy is ideal for general readers with an interest in history, politics, or leadership, as well as students and instructors in History, Classics, and Political Science.
Contents
List of Illustrations x
About the Author xiii
Preface xv
Glossary xvii
Introduction xix
Part I: The Framework 1
Chapter 1: When Is a Monarchy not a Monarchy? 3
Chapter 2: Two Models of Government 13
Chapter 3: Charismatic Leadership 22
Chapter 4: Divine Right 29
Chapter 5: Ceremonial, Titulature, and Trappings 38
Chapter 6: Legal Framework 50
Chapter 7: Social Mobility 73
Chapter 8: Aristocratic Ethos 79
Chapter 9: Equality, Equality of Opportunity and Privilege 87
Chapter 10: The Oligarchy Trap and Other Fallacies 101
Chapter 11: Machiavelli, Historian Extraordinaire 123
Part II: Accession 131
Chapter 12: Heredity 133
Chapter 13: Election 150
Chapter 14: Marriage 174
Chapter 15: Coup and Usurpation 186
Chapter 16: Conquest 194
Chapter 17: Revolution 206
Part III: Varieties of Monarchy 219
Chapter 18: Autocratic Monarchy 221
Chapter 19: Dynastic 230
Chapter 20: Military 254
Chapter 21: Totalitarian 263
Chapter 22: Constitutional Monarchy 272
Chapter 23: Hybrid 278
Chapter 24: Theocracy and Caesaropapism 298
Part IV: Correlations and Contrasts 329
Chapter 25: Liberty vs. Equality 331
Chapter 26: Religious Toleration 336
Chapter 27: Foreign Policy 349
Part V: Exit 365
Chapter 28: Natural Death 367
Chapter 29: Abdication 375
Chapter 30: Assassination 381
Chapter 31: Deposition 389
Part VI: Conclusion 397
Part VII: Round- Up 403
Primary Sources & Abbreviations 409
Select Bibliography 412
Index 427
