Patricians Vs Plebeians

For many years Rome was divided into classes, the powerful ruling class patricians and the commoner the plebeians. There were clear economic and political differences faced between the two classes. Those differences is what led to the revolt of the people and eventual change in their society. Of course with any change there was resistance that faced it. To help understand we look to our reading in the chapters six to thirteen in the outlines of roman history by William C. Morey. With his writing we can gain a better understanding of the history between those two classes.

From Morey we learn that the Roman kingdom transitioned to a republic due to the tyranny of Tarquin around 510 BCE. Laws were even passed to banish Tarquin and his

Over time the plebeians slowly developed debt from the rich, debtor class (Morey). And with situations there the plebeian could not afford to pay for this debt they were arrested, put in dungeons, and even made into slaves. We learn from Morey that the harsh law of debt made it hard for the plebeians to get out of the debt. With any culture we can understand the frustration of not being able to eliminate the growing debt the have. It is important to not that with prior wars, Rome had acquired new land from its conquests, It would be often be distributed unevenly and often the patricians would act as though they personally owned the land and collected debt on the land and put it towards their own wealth instead of the state (Morey). This type of behavior angered the plebeian because of their personal misfortunes. With those conditions understood, it is easy to understand why the plebeians revolted, the unjust debt system, in adequate of land. This unfair behavior would and could anger anyone living under

The plebeians deciding to revolt against those who feel they were unjust by, many decided to no longer to service in the army and leave the patricians to fight their own battles (Morey). They deserted the general and marched to a hill beyond Anio, Sacred Mount in 494 BCE. What surprises me, instead of retaliating against the common folk, the patricians saw the possible failures which could lead to their downfall if they do not get the common people back on their side. At that time they were compelled to alleviate the debt and release those imprisoned from it. Morey discusses how important this sign was to the common folk which allowed them to return, in addition the patricians created a new office leave for the plebeians, two tribune of people were placed in order to protect the people from possible laws placed against them. Those in power had the power to veto any possible laws that could be problematic. It is important to add that we also learn that the Tribunes can exercise authority without hindrance, persons made inviolable, means could not be arrested and anyone who interfered with them and their duty could be put to death (Morey). WIth the new assembly that was brought from this change, no magistrate could interrupt them while they were speaking or demand them to