Wealth inequality throughout history

Wealth inequality has been the norm throughout human history, as seen in ancient societies like Rome and Egypt, where the elites controlled the majority of wealth. Historical evidence shows that wealth inequality positively correlates with material prosperity, rising during periods of progress. Catastrophic events like wars, revolutions, state failures, and pandemics have historically led to a leveling of inequality, but at the cost of widespread suffering. The collapse of the Roman Empire and the Black Plague are examples of how these events drastically reduced wealth inequality. Modern democratic societies, however, have witnessed an increase in wealth inequality due to economic prowess rather than political corruption.