Social classes were one of the most important aspects of Romans lives. They dictated what your job would be, how people would look at you, how much power you had, how wealthy you would be and many more things.
Patrician
Patricians were the upper class persons of Ancient Rome. At the start of the roman republic they were elected into almost all public offices besides Tribunes and Aediles. A Roman citizen could not become a Patrician, they had to be born a Patrician.
Equestrian
Equestrians were very rich Romans who were not considered Patricians but made up their own social class. Many Equestrians held jobs like tax collectors and bankers. The Equestrians were also organized into a military class and others were allowed to join. Unlike the Patricians you did not have to be born an Equestrian to be an Equestrian.
Plebeians
Plebeians were the lower class people of Rome and had little to no influence on Roman government even though they made up the majority of the Roman population. Plebeians were very poor individuals and usually looked down on by the other classes. They could originally hold no Public offices but as time went on the Plebeians gained more control over the government and the Patricians became more accepting.
Women
Women had limited citizenship. They could not vote or hold any political power including that they could not be elected into office. Women were in charge of taking care of the house and providing food for their family. Women could not live alone, they had to live with their father or their husband.
Conflict of Orders
The Conflict of Orders was an argument between the Plebeians and Patricians because the Plebeians wanted equal political rights and the Patricians did not want the Plebeians to have political equality. The Plebeians left Rome and so the Patricians gave up and allowed the Plebeians to be elected into office and have political equality.
Patronage
A Patronage was when a freed slave (the client) became reliant on his or her previous owner (the Patron). The agreement was that if the client agreed to recognize their dependence on their Patron then their Patron would provide protection for their client. Basically the Patron would provide their client with food, water, shelter, and protection if their client agreed to serve the Patron. ( The freed salves became salves again but the Patronage offered better benefits.)
Foreigners
Foreigners were people who came from different states or countries and moved to Rome. Most foreigners were slaves not because of race but because they were prisoners, Pirates, etc. Most foreigners were not citizens but there were some foreigners who eventually became Roman citizens. Some foreigners came to Rome by choice but many were brought to rome as slaves.
Slaves
Slaves had no power over anything and were not citizens. Salves were the lowest class and Rome and many of them were foreign prisoners. Slaves worked on farms and industrial places. They worked for one person and that person could decide their fate. Masters of slaves could do whatever they wanted to their slaves and the slaves had no say in punishment, living conditions, and what they did. Typically slaves did not have long life expectancies.
Patricians were the upper class persons of Ancient Rome. At the start of the roman republic they were elected into almost all public offices besides Tribunes and Aediles. A Roman citizen could not become a Patrician, they had to be born a Patrician.
Equestrian
Equestrians were very rich Romans who were not considered Patricians but made up their own social class. Many Equestrians held jobs like tax collectors and bankers. The Equestrians were also organized into a military class and others were allowed to join. Unlike the Patricians you did not have to be born an Equestrian to be an Equestrian.
Plebeians
Plebeians were the lower class people of Rome and had little to no influence on Roman government even though they made up the majority of the Roman population. Plebeians were very poor individuals and usually looked down on by the other classes. They could originally hold no Public offices but as time went on the Plebeians gained more control over the government and the Patricians became more accepting.
Women
Women had limited citizenship. They could not vote or hold any political power including that they could not be elected into office. Women were in charge of taking care of the house and providing food for their family. Women could not live alone, they had to live with their father or their husband.
Conflict of Orders
The Conflict of Orders was an argument between the Plebeians and Patricians because the Plebeians wanted equal political rights and the Patricians did not want the Plebeians to have political equality. The Plebeians left Rome and so the Patricians gave up and allowed the Plebeians to be elected into office and have political equality.
Patronage
A Patronage was when a freed slave (the client) became reliant on his or her previous owner (the Patron). The agreement was that if the client agreed to recognize their dependence on their Patron then their Patron would provide protection for their client. Basically the Patron would provide their client with food, water, shelter, and protection if their client agreed to serve the Patron. ( The freed salves became salves again but the Patronage offered better benefits.)
Foreigners
Foreigners were people who came from different states or countries and moved to Rome. Most foreigners were slaves not because of race but because they were prisoners, Pirates, etc. Most foreigners were not citizens but there were some foreigners who eventually became Roman citizens. Some foreigners came to Rome by choice but many were brought to rome as slaves.
Slaves
Slaves had no power over anything and were not citizens. Salves were the lowest class and Rome and many of them were foreign prisoners. Slaves worked on farms and industrial places. They worked for one person and that person could decide their fate. Masters of slaves could do whatever they wanted to their slaves and the slaves had no say in punishment, living conditions, and what they did. Typically slaves did not have long life expectancies.
By: Emily Schmeiser