Terrible analogy. American rich mostly earned their money. Elites in the times we are discussing stole it.
Defensive much?
Who cares how the money was made?
My point is that it’s far more typical for people with resources to relocate when a neighbourhood starts to go downhill than put up with the unpleasantness that goes with standing up to thugs.
Not necessarily. Many of the major powers rose in the Middle Ages due to trade.