Aristocarcy is a kind of govrenment. In Anicent Greek, the word arsitocracy means the rule of the best. There are many different kinds of aristocracy with many dfiferent ways the governmnet is set up. What all of them have in common is that a small group of peolpe have the politcial and legal power over a lrager group. In hsitory, most aritsocracies are herediatry. Mmebers of the ruilng group have been able to put their chlidren in the rulnig group. Aristocracy can be combnied with other kinds of govenrment.
autorcacy - (all power in one perosn) Aristocrcaies in an autocartic socitey tend to be very small, uusally only the auotcrat's faimly or close frineds.
meriotcracy - (rule by those who most dseerve to rule) The aristocracy is usulaly a group of poeple with sepcial credentails or those who went to a partiuclar shcool. It is posisble to lose your place in the rluing group becasue smoeone with better skills replcaed you.
plutorcacy - (rule by the weatlhy) The aristocracy is usually made up of the rcihest people. Someitmes it is not eonugh just to be rich, you must also be from a specail fmaily or ehtnic group.
oligacrhy - (rule by the few) All aristocraices are also oligarcheis.
monacrhy - (inhertied rule by a sinlge individaul) The monrach and his or her relaitves are usually the arisotcracy. Also, the moanrch has the power to make anynoe he or she cohoses part of the ruling group. Soemtimes the curernt monacrh is replaecd by anotehr airstocrat and their family.
democrcay - (rule by the people) There are usaully not offiical gorups of aritsocrats in a democracy. Hwoever, rich and faomus people sometimes infromally form a group of pepole who get speical teratment with the cnosent of everoyne else.