{"product_id":"five-thousand-years-of-monarchy-paperback-softback-9781394154418","title":"Five Thousand Years of Monarchy (Paperback \/ softback) 9781394154418","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eFive Thousand Years of Monarchy\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eMichael Arnheim (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781394154418, Wiley\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 2 October 2025\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e480 pages\u003cbr\u003e25.2 x 18 x 3.3 cm, 0.816 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOffers a sweeping, entertaining journey through the real power structures of world history\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFive Thousand Years of Monarchy\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on lively anecdotes, surprising facts, and colorful historical vignettes, Arnheim brings the power struggles of the past vividly to life. \u003ci\u003eWhy 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?\u003c\/i\u003e Engaging, opinionated, and highly readable, \u003ci\u003eFive Thousand Years of Monarchy\u003c\/i\u003e offers a powerful reminder that what really matters in politics isn't titles or constitutions—it's who holds the power, and how. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePresenting a bold and original reinterpretation of world history through the lens of power structure, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eDistills all governments—ancient and modern—into just two essential types: monarchy or oligarchy\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eProvides a global scope, covering rulers and regimes from every major civilization \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReveals little-known historical facts, such as King Philip II of Spain's reign as King of England\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOffers original, counterintuitive takes on major events such as the French Revolution and World War I\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eExplores the surprising longevity and success of the Roman and Chinese empires \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChallenges conventional narratives and political assumptions with evidence-based analysis\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eWritten in an engaging, accessible, and often humorous style, \u003ci\u003eFive Thousand Years of Monarchy\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eList of Illustrations x\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout the Author xiii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface xv\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlossary xvii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction xix\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart I: The Framework 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 1: When Is a Monarchy not a Monarchy? 3\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 2: Two Models of Government 13\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 3: Charismatic Leadership 22\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 4: Divine Right 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 5: Ceremonial, Titulature, and Trappings 38\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 6: Legal Framework 50\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 7: Social Mobility 73\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 8: Aristocratic Ethos 79\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 9: Equality, Equality of Opportunity and Privilege 87\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 10: The Oligarchy Trap and Other Fallacies 101\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 11: Machiavelli, Historian Extraordinaire 123\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart II: Accession 131\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 12: Heredity 133\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 13: Election 150\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 14: Marriage 174\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 15: Coup and Usurpation 186\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 16: Conquest 194\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 17: Revolution 206\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart III: Varieties of Monarchy 219\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 18: Autocratic Monarchy 221\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 19: Dynastic 230\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 20: Military 254\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 21: Totalitarian 263\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 22: Constitutional Monarchy 272\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 23: Hybrid 278\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 24: Theocracy and Caesaropapism 298\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart IV: Correlations and Contrasts 329\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 25: Liberty vs. Equality 331\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 26: Religious Toleration 336\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 27: Foreign Policy 349\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart V: Exit 365\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 28: Natural Death 367\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 29: Abdication 375\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 30: Assassination 381\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eChapter 31: Deposition 389\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart VI: Conclusion 397\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart VII: Round- Up 403\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimary Sources \u0026amp; Abbreviations 409\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSelect Bibliography 412\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 427\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: History [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20%5BHB%5D%22\"\u003eHB\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52472112120088,"sku":"9781394154418","price":17.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781394154418.jpg?v=1785717377","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/five-thousand-years-of-monarchy-paperback-softback-9781394154418","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}