Social Classes In Ancient Rome

Introduction:

In ancient Rome resided two distinct social classes sharing the same geographical area that was the patricians and the plebeian. These two classes lives were separated economically and politically. This separation on the long run led to a plebeian revolt. I will start by quickly displaying or defining who was the patrician, and the plebeian. Then, I will explain the differences regarding both economic classes, and what were the reasons and causes that led to the plebeian first revolt. I will follow by explaining the differences regarding both political classes and finally conclude.

The patricians were generally the wealthier social class, they possess a large amount of the public land according to forumromanum.org.

Also, forumromanum.org stated that the plebeians could not hold any of the new offices, nor could they sit in the Senate. Additionally, the homes of the plebeians were generally in the country. Accordingly, when they were serving in the army, their little farms were neglected or ravaged by the enemy, their families were driven away, and their property was destroyed. In this way, while serving their country, they were deprived of their houses and fields, and of the means of subsistence, and so were reduced to a condition of poverty and great

These difficulties led to dissatisfaction from the plebeians. One of the leading cause of the plebeians revolt was also due to the fact that the patricians government was autocratic, undemocratic, and tyrannical. This way of governing created tensions between the both social classes. The plebeians might perhaps have submitted to the government of the patricians, if it had not been exercised in a selfish and oppressive manner according to forumromanum.org. The harsh law of debt became unsupportable for the plebeians, which led to the first secession. As stated by forumromanum.org, there was no legal way to redress their wrongs, they decided that they would no longer serve in the army, but leave the patricians to fight their own battles. They therefore deserted their general, marched in full array to a hill beyond the Anio, which they called the Sacred Mount (Mons Sacer), and proposed to form an independent city (B.C. 494). The patricians saw that the loss of the plebeian army would be the destruction of Rome. They were therefore compelled to make a solemn compact to the effect that the debts of all persons who were insolvent should be canceled; and that those who had been imprisoned on account of debt should be