Some cultures from the past valued the needs of the many more than the wants of the few.
For these cultures, 'Honor' was valued more highly gold.

 These cultures believed that freedom for all was more important than the riches of the few.

These cultures had laws (both written and unwritten) which dictated the behaviors of those within society.
Chivalry and Bushido were understood as being the thread which held society together.
Any honorale death was seen as being better than an dishonerable life.

(Yeah... It's summer viewing season for my little cousins and I and these three movies were the ones we watched.)