Why Were The Plebeians Important To Rome

In the 6th century, there were two different classes in the Roman Empire: patricians and plebeians. The patricians had made up 5 to 7 percent of the population all the while controlling the army, senate, and the consoles. Plebeians on the other hand, can vote but could not serve other positions. They also couldn’t intermarry with the patricians, they were told to pay heavy taxes, and forced into the army to fight in wars. Because of this, they were angry, and they didn’t know their rights.

Patricians hold all the offices in ancient Rome and plebeians who outnumbered them were mostly farmers, craftsmen and soldiers. Therefore one can understand that practically while plebeians had no rights or knowledge, they were in an advantageous position as patricians couldn’t defend the city or do any kind of job without their help. Plebeians couldn’t tolerate the increasing debt and the abuse of patricians and demanded equality, by blackmailing the patricians

The palebians made up the majority of the population. But they were not allowed to have any say in political issues. The palebians were the poor, lower class citizens who couldn't become priests or be a part of the senate. They were the peasants, craftsmen, farmers, and shopkeepers. On the other hand, the patricians were the ones who were wealthy (the upper class) and the only ones that could have power in religious offices, in the senate, and could control over the military. Unllike the Palebians, the patricians were the smaller part of the population that had all the power. But just because the Patricians had all the control over Rome, this did not mean that the Palebians weren't important or "necessary"

The Romans have contributed greatly to our modern era. They’ve influenced our law and government. Many ideas of the American Legal System came from the Roman Republican Government. Like our law, the Romans also believed that everyone was equal under the law. They also during court, a person is considered innocent until he/

Why were plebeians so important to Rome? In ancient Rome, the upper class of aristocrats, the patricians, were wealthy and powerful, but few, so to expand Rome's territory, as well as to protect it, they needed the large population of common people, plebeians, to furnish soldiers for the growing army. While Rome had always been threatened by neighboring states, military threats from its rivals increased as its borders grew, and as well, it had to maintain control over the territories it had already conquered. Roman colonies needed protection, as did Romain resources, especially valuable or strategic ones. Furthermore, the city of Rome itself needed defending.

Roman society was split into two social classes: the patricians and plebeians. The patricians were high class citizens who had many privileges and were capable of holding office, unlike the plebeians, who couldn’t hold office, had little voice in the government, and were only able to fill the lower ranks of the Roman army. In 493 BC, the plebeians refused to serve in the army any longer, and as a result an official plebeian assembly and political office were made: the concilium plebis and tribune. The tribune was elected by the plebeian assembly to represent the plebs; they had the power to block any action by the Senate, patrician assembly, and the consuls that would detriment the plebeians.

Why were plebeians so important to Rome? In the ancient Roman where dictatorship was at it perk involving the two kings of Etruscan, there arise a union between Patricians and the Plebeians. Brutus led the revolt that drove out the Etruscan Kings, who then became the first leader of the new republic. Romans now govern themselves freely but inequality set in between the Patricians and the Plebeians. The power then rests in the hands of the aristocrats or noble rich men called patricians.

In the ancient city of Alba Longa in Rome, there was a tradition between Patricians and Plebeians. Patricians were land-owning aristocrats who served as priest, magistrates, lawyers, and judges. While Plebeians on the other hand were the poorer class who served as craftsmen, laborers, and merchants. Even though in Rome every free male was a citizen, not every citizen received equal opportunities. The Senate was primarily made up of Patricians, who responsibilities were creating the law. In an attempt to protect themselves Plebeians formed their own legislative assembly, called the Consilium Plebis (Council of Plebeians).

They claimed that their ancestry gave them authority to make laws for Rome. The plebeians were citizens of Rome with the right to vote. However, they were barred by law from holding the most important government positions. In time, Rome’s leaders allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes. Tribunes protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials. (page 156)

Then there was the common people of Rome, known as plebeians, the plebeians were free citizens with a voice in politics, however, they had very few of the patricians advantages, that was in the political and social sense. Most of the plebeians were poor artisan’s small farmers, and landless urban dwellers. “The Romans created several assembles through which men elected

So how did they shape the perceptions of the people, including the illiterate plebeian’s, in their favour? How did they transmit their power to the furthest reaches of their territory and achieve, maintain and promote an atmosphere of peace, prosperity and good governance when Rome was in conflict? While written works, such as the pro-Roman writings of Livy, were used as

Keep in mind, you should know that the government changed a lot in its time. The patricians pretty much had all the power early on in the Republic. The highest position in the Republic was held by the consuls, who were the "rulers" of the Roman Republic. A senate made up of patricians and the assemblies elected these people to become consuls. Plebeians pretty much had no say in the government at the time.

Plebeians were able to become members of the Senate after the Conflict of Orders. The first plebeians to be elected to office were called novus homos, as they were the first of their family to serve in the senate. This term means new man. This is important because now Roman leadership could be drawn from both classes and not just patricians. For Rome to be successful, it needed the advice of all of its citizens, no matter what class they came from. Many influential Romans were novus homos. One example of an influential novus homo is Cicero. In his first speech to the Senate as consul, Cicero makes a point to announce that he is a novus homo. Cicero goes on about how proud he is of the fact that he has no consular lineage. He thinks of his consulship as a huge honor. Cicero then became an influential member of the Senate. He was known for being an excellent orator and for giving very powerful speeches. Another example of an influential novus homo was Gaius Marius. Gaius Marius was a successful Roman general and consul. The importance of Gaius Marius will be discussed later. Romans were typically set in their ways. It was already difficult to become consul for consular families and it was even more difficult for novus homos. However, political power could not remain in the hands of the wealthy for long. For the empire to succeeded they needed new leadership and new ideas. The introduction of the novus

The Roman civilization valued their geography as the greatest feature compared to their social class system and the Empire. The Romans were fortunate enough to have access to the Mediterranean sea. The Mediterranean Sea allowed Rome to earn vast amounts of land, which led to the government becoming more rich and the classes clashing with one another. Rome’s successful military missions allowed them to take over most of the Mediterranean area. As the republic grew, and the rich became richer (Struck). The land was unevenly distributed between social classes, pitting the plebeians against the patricians. The patricians and plebeians worked together to take down the Etruscan Kings, the power of Rome fell into the hands of patricians. The plebeians

The richest and most powerful people in Ancient Rome were the patricians. The patricians were the wealthiest and were usually part of the Senate, or other governmental figures. Each year an assembly of the citizens and equites/landowners would vote new members of the Senate into office. The social structure of Ancient Rome was a hierarchy. The highest class were the patricians, followed by the plebeians, who were ordinary citizens