ABSTRACT
In modern societies, the term "ruling class" is frequently used but is at best a vaguely and at worst an incorrectly applied concept, more suitable as a political symbol than for descriptive purposes. The matter is different with respect to traditional aristocratic empires. The aristocracy can be quite accurately described as a ruling class. The aristocracy in its empires is a governing class par excellence. However, as the authors turn to a discussion of the aristocracy in the government of aristocratic empires, the concept of government must be deprived of the connotations it has acquired in modern societies. One of the major functions of the central government of modern societies— the maintenance of domestic peace and order— need not be performed by the governments of aristocratic empires with respect to the bulk of their population. The poor communications typical of aristocratic empires compel the local aristocracy to make decisions more or less independently of the central aristocracy.
