Nicole Oresme

[upbeat music] Insight number five, the involvement of the super-rich in politics has always been seen as somewhat problematic.

Medieval political writers, such as the 14th century French philosopher Nicole Oresme, argued that cities which are governed democratically should banish the super-rich because they are, and I quote, "So unequal and exceed and overcome the others regarding their political power so much that it is reasonable to think that they are among the others as God is among men." Hence the title of my own book.

Their fears were well-grounded, and the story of Cosimo de' Medici is again the best illustration.

In 1433, when he already was one of the richest men in Europe, he was accused by his political enemies of intending to upturn the Florentine republican government, and he was exiled.