Technically, "oligarchy" means rule by the few (hoi oligoi). The alternative is rule of the many (hoi polloi), also called "democracy." The distinction goes ba

Technically, "oligarchy" means rule by the few (hoi oligoi). The alternative is rule of the many (hoi polloi), also called "democracy." The distinction goes back to at least the Golden Age of Athens, in the 5th Century B.C. The Greek world was divided between cities ruled by the many and by the few, and every city had an internal struggle between elements favoring one or the other form of rule. If you favored democracy, you turned to Athens for help. Hoi oligoi turned to Sparta for help. It's a bit like the Cold War, with two superpowers with different ideologies vying for favor among the undecided states, and promoting internal factions favorable to one side or the other.