Conspiracy theories, and particularly the belief that elements of the world are secretly controlled by individuals or groups, have been around for as long as people have lived in groups. Perhaps that’s inevitable - after all, those who are excluded from power are very likely to be inclined to see their position not as an outcome of their own choices or situation but because of the secret machinations of shadowy groups.

This type of conspiracy theory isn’t new. As far back as the final years of the Roman Republic, some Romans became convinced that powerful people were secretly conspiring to subvert the power of Rome’s elected assemblies and planning to take control. It can be argued that this is the earliest documented conspiracy theory, but in that case, it was actually true. From the Catiline Conspiracy to the First Triumvirate, it is now clear that men like Julius Caesar, Pompey, Marcus, Crassus, and Catiline were in fact attempting to subvert the Republican system, and their attempts would lead to internal unrest and civil war. Ultimately, Caesar would indeed bring about the end of the Republic and the establishment of Imperial Rome, ruled by one man: the emperor.

That’s part of the problem with trying to look objectively at any conspiracy theory. Secret conspiracies and secret societies do exist, and throughout history, some were often specifically intended to acquire power and wealth. Meanwhile, virtually universal access to the Internet in the 21st century has led to the widespread dissemination of strange theories that would previously have been known by only a handful of people.

When members of a secret society are some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world, it’s easy to see why rumors persist about the group, and among such secret societies, few have engendered interest quit like Skull and Bones, an undergraduate senior society at Yale University.