How The Strict Social Classes Of Ancient Rome

There were two classes, the upper class and the lower class which were the main classes of the ranked system during ancient Rome. The upper class was constructed of the wealthy people who owned land, who became engulfed in politics as being important figures like senators, tribunes, and consuls, etc. The upper class members are part of a wealthy group called the Patricians.

The large population led to the classification of social status. According the Document D, second paragraph, the citizens were ranked into distinct classes based on different standards of living. They were ranked by wealth, heritage, administrative competence, martial status, and physical and moral fitness. These classes determined the citizen’s political privileges, level of taxation, and military service. Under the rule of Emperor Trajan and many others, Rome reached its highest peak. It was distinctively large compared to Athens, and analogically expressed as an elephant to a

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

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.

Chapter three labeled "Empire Urban life and imperial Majesty in Rome,China,and India. In Republican Rome a man named Romulus inaugurated traditional distinction between the patricians and the plebian. The patricians were the where the land owners who were also aristocrats that served as priests, magistrates, lawyers and/or judges. The plebian were the lower classed poor people who consisted of craftsmen, merchants and laborers. In 510 BCE the roman people expelled the last Etruscan kings and decided to rule themselves with without the need for a monarchy.

[The top state officals] At the very top of the Anceint Roman society was the rich and esteemed senatorial class, a class of men who had served in the senate, this class also included the family of

When delving deep into the turbulent gears of Roman society throughout the existence of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, you can find many examples of how high-class Romans, or patricians, were expected to act. As common themes across many primary sources cause scholars to wonder if the letters, treatises, and other works written by high class Romans during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire to further euphemize hierarchies or to show morals that ran rampant across the patrician class, theories supporting all sides are able to take root and sprout like many vegetables and fruit for readers to pick and digest. Thus, scholars have a hard time coming up with concrete resources to prove their varying points in the scholarship that is currently available on the subject of Ancient Roman Society.

Rome’s government was split into three social groups. At the top of the structure were the Patricians who were great land owners, considered citizens, could vote

Praetors were set in charge of protecting the civil law. The main principles of law are to live uprightly and not to injure another man. The Roman society is based around two classes; the Plebeians who represent over ninety percent of the common population and the Patricians were descendants from the first three hundred senators seen as the elite class. The leaders of the society were the consuls and senate which created laws choose leaders, and lead military campaigns. The Roman economy was far less advanced and sophisticated as its famed government it was mainly agrarian, and slave based focused on feeding its people and more importantly its army. The conquest and subjugation of lesser kingdoms and territories was a major propone in Roman economics. The Roman republic as we know it was a revolutionary system that shaped politics and cultural norms for how citizens have a role in electing leaders as well as leader’s positions in the new political battle field that became the roman senate and counsels. The Roman republic made strives under its emperors to improve culture thru public works projects, expanded influence on France and England, changes in land ownership to smaller scales to benefit the state. However while some leaders like Augustus and Julius Caesar where strong others like Nero and Caligula were crazed and broken rulers who brought hard times upon Rome.

The roman people started as a group of tribes ruled by a senate consisting of the fathers of the families (700 B.C.), with an elected king that commanded the army and performed certain religious rituals. There was also an assembly of all the roman citizens that could bear arms that was called the Comitia Curiata. The Comitia Curiata was the only assembly that could change laws, declare wars/peace, and confirm the election of kings. About a century later (~625 B.C.), Rome was divided into three different classes. There were the descendants of the original founders of rome, called Patricians. They were the only ones who had any power in the government. There were also Clients, who were free but had to serve a Patrician. They worked the fields

The first class consisted of the nobles, the leading priests, and the emperor. The second class consisted of the ordinary citizens who lived in the calpulli. The third class was made up of the serfs and the fourth made up of the slaves. Back then there was a division of power and job specialization. This structure resembles a structure similar to todays. People are elected to be in top positions that are in charge of people in lower positions. For example back then the emperor was elected to the position, and now days we elect people into positions like congressman and city council. Then below that that are business owners, employees, house workers, etc. The ordinary citizens were required to attend school for agriculture and warfare. I think this is important to note because back then they were being required to learn what they had to know in order to help society function at the level it was at. Today students are required to learn up to a standard that is thought to be enough to function and help contribute to

The beginning of the third century BCE saw a new elite emerging in Roman society—the nobiles (nobles).These people were a mixture of patricians and plebeians who had held the highest office (the consulate), or whose fathers or forefathers had done so. This new hereditary ruling class of nobilitas (nobility) controlled the senate and, thanks to their array of clients and their own prestige, the popular assemblies as well .

The rank of the citizen therefore, would be the rank of the child. Roman society was divided into two classes- the patricians and the plebeians. The commoner class would be the plebeians. They were mainly families of laborers, small farmers, and artisans that made up 95 percent of the population. The other 5 percent were the patricians, which were the upper class of Roman families. They monopolized the power and influence, and even went as far as to not allow marriage outside of their own group. The patricians were the only ones that could serve as senators, priests and magistrates. Slowly over the years the plebeians gained more rights and by 287 B.C. the Roman aristocracy gave way to the pressures of the lower class and the class difference became more subtle and was based on a combination of birth and also wealth. A small group of rich and powerful families arose, known as the nobiles and attained the highest offices in the state, thus changing the distinction of classes to the nobiles and then everyone else.

The Ancient Rome social structure is a prominent foundation for societies in the modern world. In Roman culture, the ancients link their social hierarchy standings and earn exclusive privileges concerning survival through agriculture. Through the examination and analysis of specific sources, it is evident that in Roman society, there is a correlation between social superiority and agriculture. In Roman culture, signs of social superiority are notable through the cultivation of grain. Subsequently, the ownership of numerous agricultural states translates to higher social ranking and abundance of wealth. Due to the expense and impracticalities of refrigeration, food preservation is a task available only for the wealthy. Furthermore, the production of both olive oil and wine contributes to the social superiority in Ancient Rome. With the assistance of particular primary sources, it showcases the connection between agriculture and the social superiority in the Ancient Rome.