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Aristocracy from Greek aristo, - excellent, and kratos - power, is a form of government in which a few of the most prominent citizens rule. The term is derived from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best".[1] See Aristocracy for the historical roots of the term. The concept evolved in Ancient Greece, whereby a council of prominent citizens was commonly used and contrasted with monarchy, in which an individual king held the power.[2] Later, aristocracies primarily consisted of an elite aristocratic class, privileged by birth and wealth. Since the French Revolution, aristocracy has generally been contrasted with democracy, in which all citizens hold some form of political power.