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Patrician Class In The Roman Republic

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It seems like in every part of history there is some type of class struggle. One class has all the power while the other does not and is constantly fighting for it. Well during the time of the Roman Republic, history repeats itself once again. During the time of the Roman Republic there were two economic classes that were constantly fighting for power and the right to have a say, those two classes were the Patricians and the Plebeians. The Patricians were “great landowners who became the ruling class in the Roman Republic.” (Spielvogel, 116) The Plebeians were “the class of Roman citizens that included nonpatrician landowners, craftspeople, merchants and small farmers in the Roman Republic.” (Spielvogel, 116) Throughout this time in history …show more content…

According to Spielvogel “the patrician class in Rome consisted of families who were descended from the original senators appointed during the period of the kings.” (Spielvogel, 116) However even though the plebeians knew who and where the patricians came from that was not going to stop them from fighting for the power they felt they deserved, and so began a struggle to rectify the situation they were in. Early on in this struggle the plebeians made it known that they had two main issues with the patricians. The plebeians who did have money wanted political equality with the patricians, mostly the right to hold office. The other being that they wanted social equality in the form of intermarriage as well. Leading up to these issues it seemed like every law was in the favor of the patricians. The patricians and the plebeians could vote, but in fact only the patricians could be voted into office. Both parties also had the right to make legal contracts and marriages, the issue was that intermarriage between the two parties was forbidden. The plebeians knew they would have to take drastic measure if they were going to prove to the patricians that they deserve more power. According to Spielvogel “The plebeians first success came in 494 B.C.E, when they withdrew physically from the state. The patricians, realizing that they could not defend Rome by themselves, were forced to compromise.” (Spielvogel,

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