Ebook: The rich : from slaves to super yachts : a 2000-year history

From the Roman Republic to Roman Abramovich, a tiny number of the super-rich have held sway over the economics and politics of their eras. How they made their money - by skill, luck or ruthless determination - becomes irrelevant once they've reached the top. The objects of desire may have changed, but the rules have stayed the same. For the slaves, concubines, gold and castles of ancient and medieval times, read private jets, holiday islands and football clubs. Does the start of the twenty-first century mark a turning point or does history show us that the richest 0.01 per cent will always triumph? From extraordinary tales of Norman knights, Malian kings and Spanish conquistadores to present-day sheikhs, internet giants, oligarchs and bankers, this is the compelling story of the rise and rise of the very wealthy around the world over the past two thousand years.