Essay On Social Classes In The Roman Empire

The Greek and Roman social structures highlight the differences in their development and transformation. This includes gender roles and relationships, family and kinship, social and economic classes and racial and moral construction.

* The middle class lay in the middle and was the group of people in society that had bigger better houses on their own block of land and were quite well off when it came to money and resources.

upper class consisted of wealthy and well educated minor aristocrats they could vote and they held high public office

The Roman leaders found Rome empty and built it into one of the greatest cities of all time. Augustus build a new Forum, with statues of great heroes of Rome, theatres, porticoes,etc. (Document 1). It was called “to be a spectacle from which its is hard to tear yourself away from,” Strabo. Augustus and his men built aqueducts, arches, etc. which are all 21st century items. The government leaders in Rome were always looking out for the safety of the people. There are ancient pictures of Augustus telling the architects to structure all the buildings to stand at least seventy feet high (Document 6). Rome’s people all were permitted to freely gather and bathe. Today we have swimming pools in which all people are allowed to access. Something that has shaped society today, when reflecting back on Roman times, are aqueducts. The Romans received water by using this method of irrigation which was first used in 312 BC. In America and throughout other countries we use irrigation as our water source, a similar source to the aqueducts. Romans used cement to build arches in which water would flow through (aqueducts), today in modern life we still use bridges/arches for many things. Roman architecture is still shown throughout America

Rome began in 31 BCE when Augustus Caesar became the first emperor of Rome, and the Roman empire was a significant and powerful western civilization with a complex political, religious, and social system by 117 CE (Mark, Roman Empire). From the parallel streets in cities of the Roman empire to the layout of the Roman forum to the living structures of the different classes, the Roman empire at this time was highly organized and methodical. And these are but a few examples of the power and authority of the Roman empire, which clearly put the citizens in their place. Looking at Rome and Pompeii, ancient art, building structures, and city layouts clearly stratified citizens based on economic and social status.

In Ancient Rome, The way society worked was much similar to America. The Roman social class is and has been very significant in the operational American social class. None of the Roman class’ was oppressed or enslaved rather they were split into two. Once the Romans defeated the Etruscans they went on to build an empire that would change the world. Their influence in today’s society is still very present. We still borrow ideas from them. They formed a government where they would elect people to represent for them, called a republic. This is still the foundation for government in most of today’s world. They formed a system of law that was completely ahead of it’s time so much so that it has become the base for many countries legal system today; one of these being The United States. The political system they built, coincidental caused a division between the Romans. Plebeians were the common people of Rome; the Patricians who were the ones of higher class could serve in the consul. This was the highest position in the senate. The Assembly was made up of Plebeians. They had gained a significant amount of importance when they were the ones given the power to elect Consuls. The Assembly head position was a tribune; he was the leader of the Assembly and had a lot of power. Then they developed the Law of Twelve Tables, a

Greece influenced roman societies and modern day societies politically as explained in documents 1, 2, 4, and 6. Greece was the first ancient civilization to have a democracy. The basic rule for roman society law system was displayed in the twelve tables. (Doc 2) Many western civilizations adapted this law system as well as other ideas from the roman 12 tables which influenced western societies immensely. The document explains a quote that we still use in modern society which is “every man is innocent until proven guilty.” Octavian Augustus states that after he dies “the foundations which I have laid for its future government will stand firm and stable” the Greeks invented an idea of a ruling senate which today is known as democracy. (Doc 4)

In the roman empire the structure of a family was the basis for the structure of government. It was thought that a family was a state within a state. The dominant male or paterfamilias have control over the family just as the paterfamilias of the state (state magistrates): had the power of the state. But while men are at the top of this hierarchy slaves are at the bottom. Slaves could be acquired as prisoners of war or could be traded. The rich owned the most slaves and often the best. Slaves were used for cooks, valets, waiters, cleaners, farmers, assistants or artisans. Because the empire grew out of the traditions of the republic, both social structures of the republic and the empire were based on wealth but you will also notice that in both society's there are few rich compared to the many poor or slaves in which they are similar.

-Rome accepted inequality as well as institutionalizing and turning it into a system of mutual benefits.

Just like today and in many other empires all over, the Roman Empire had class systems and they were the Patricians and Plebeians. Patrician class was the upper-class and consisted of nobility and wealthy land owners. Opposite of the patricians were the plebeians, the social group that consisted of everyone else in Rome. This group ranged from the tradesman all the way to the very poor. Later these groups would transform into the other social classes known as the populares and the optimates. The Populares were a mixture of plebeians and patricians who favored the common people and were for the extension of citizenship to all people of the empire, the elimination

The Gentry, (Upper Class) usually by right of birth, the upper crust of society owned a large proportion of the lands, held powerful positions within government and were rich. A central belief system that this is their rightful place in society, to pursue and enjoy the pleasures of life, including education and materials. To

The Roman way of life is different and similar to modern day. Though one may not know much over the Roman’s the culture is fascinating and still remembered in history. The clothes, food, customs, and leisure are major in Roman lifestyle.

The basis of Roman society, as proclaimed by the laws, was the family, headed by a pater familias, who had power over his dependents. However, Roman women were quite free and had greater control over their wealth and property than preceding states in the Mediterranean. One key difference from the Han was an extensive institution of slavery, in which slave laborers were used in large numbers to produce goods Roman society was a relatively hierarchical society. Each social group had well-defined roles. Birth was an important indicator of social position. While the elite could enjoy a relatively wealthy life and could expect to become officials and hold high positions, lower classes could not expect such luxury. In trials, the Roman elite was better privileged; they received preferential treatment from imperial courts. They could not be subject to cruel punishments. For the lower classes, the fastest way to advance socially was the army or trade Han society was divided into a number of classes, all played a role within this complex society. The basis of this society were free peasants, who formed the base of the tax revenues of the state and who produced most of the agricultural crop. Governing them were the scholar-officials, educated men who were interpreters of the empire's official ideology, Confucianism. These men also helped link the central government with local society. Merchants were also a class, but they were subject to controls by the

Ancient Roman society is an aristocratic society which means that social resource mainly dominated by upper class. At the beginning, there were only two different social classes of ancient Roman society, including patricians,

The most privileged of the three classes was the “Aristocracy” or high class. Those of