The idea of an “ illuminati ”, meaning “enlightened” or “illuminated”, has been around since the 15th century, wrote author and academic Chris Fleming. The term Illuminati derives from the Latin word illuminatus, meaning “enlightened.” Weishaupt envisioned the group as a network of intellectuals united to combat religious dogma and oppressive governance. Who were the Illuminati , and do they really control the world? Here's what we know about one of history's most alluring secret societies, including how you became a member... In Today’s discourse, the term ‘ Illuminati ’ has expanded beyond historical societies. It is often used to denote alleged global elites who control politics and economy from behind the scenes – a notion propagated by conspiracy theorists globally.
