That’s a long time.
Originally shared by Keith Wilson
The richest families in Florence, Italy in 1427 are the richest families in Florence, Italy today. Fascinating.
That’s a long time.
Originally shared by Keith Wilson
The richest families in Florence, Italy in 1427 are the richest families in Florence, Italy today. Fascinating.
One interesting thing about this story is that, as in many cases, how you interpret data depends on the model you start with. The data reported here admits two quite different interpretations. One is that families are good at passing wealth and status down the generations. The other is that innate characteristics that produce wealth and status are heritable.
On either model you have to explain why the outcome is linked to the last name, which goes to sons but not to daughters. One obvious explanation is that high status people mostly marry other high status people, so the daughter of high status family A acquires by marriage the name of high status family B, to pass on to her children.
One interesting thing about this story is that, as in many cases, how you interpret data depends on the model you start with. The data reported here admits two quite different interpretations. One is that families are good at passing wealth and status down the generations. The other is that innate characteristics that produce wealth and status are heritable.
On either model you have to explain why the outcome is linked to the last name, which goes to sons but not to daughters. One obvious explanation is that high status people mostly marry other high status people, so the daughter of high status family A acquires by marriage the name of high status family B, to pass on to her children.
“On either model you have to explain why the outcome is linked to the last name, which goes to sons but not to daughters.”
The most obvious answer is that we’re looking at a sexist patriarchal society, where income and wealth are provided to men, not women, and where inheritances typically went to the men.
The innate characteristics theory falls completely flat, considering the large number of offspring produced out of wedlock (rape, prostitution, etc). There would naturally be some churn if genetic equivalents had somewhat equal chances against each other.
But anyways…
Since this is SFF. The more fun explanation is that some folks don’t age, and they take advantage of their immortality to build empires of power and wealth…
“On either model you have to explain why the outcome is linked to the last name, which goes to sons but not to daughters.”
The most obvious answer is that we’re looking at a sexist patriarchal society, where income and wealth are provided to men, not women, and where inheritances typically went to the men.
The innate characteristics theory falls completely flat, considering the large number of offspring produced out of wedlock (rape, prostitution, etc). There would naturally be some churn if genetic equivalents had somewhat equal chances against each other.
But anyways…
Since this is SFF. The more fun explanation is that some folks don’t age, and they take advantage of their immortality to build empires of power and wealth…