The Patricians and Plebeians were two different types or classes of people in ancient
Rome. The major distinctions between them were mainly economic and political with the
Patricians holding the power and the bulk of the wealth. Plebeian conditions eventually got so bad that the Plebeians revolted on a few occasions. We will explore a few of the ways in which the different economic and/or political treatment led to a Plebeian revolt.
Perhaps the root of all other issues began with the difference in wealth between the two. The Patricians held the majority of the wealth and wanted to keep it that way. The likely root of the wealth difference circled around the issue of property. The Patricians’ homes were located within city walls while the Plebeians lived …show more content…
Patricians and Plebeians, Differences and Revolt Page 4 of 4
The first revolt of the Plebeians likely resulted mainly from the hard law of debt. They served in the army but weren’t given any of the land winnings even though often times, they lost their own land to other enemies or natural devastation while off fighting. Finally deciding they had enough, the Plebeians revolted. The Patricians realized quickly that they needed the
Plebeians in order to be successful in war. As a result of this need and the supposed reason for the revolt, the Patricians decided to cancel the debts of the Plebeians and release those imprisoned because of debt. Further, they enacted a new government office, the tribune of the people, which was meant to protect the Plebeians from further oppressive acts of the Patrician
Magistrate. The tribune had two Plebeians appointed to it and given veto power over decisions that would bear unjustly upon any citizen.
The gross injustice politically and economically could only last so long
Rome. The major distinctions between them were mainly economic and political with the
Patricians holding the power and the bulk of the wealth. Plebeian conditions eventually got so bad that the Plebeians revolted on a few occasions. We will explore a few of the ways in which the different economic and/or political treatment led to a Plebeian revolt.
Perhaps the root of all other issues began with the difference in wealth between the two. The Patricians held the majority of the wealth and wanted to keep it that way. The likely root of the wealth difference circled around the issue of property. The Patricians’ homes were located within city walls while the Plebeians lived …show more content…
Patricians and Plebeians, Differences and Revolt Page 4 of 4
The first revolt of the Plebeians likely resulted mainly from the hard law of debt. They served in the army but weren’t given any of the land winnings even though often times, they lost their own land to other enemies or natural devastation while off fighting. Finally deciding they had enough, the Plebeians revolted. The Patricians realized quickly that they needed the
Plebeians in order to be successful in war. As a result of this need and the supposed reason for the revolt, the Patricians decided to cancel the debts of the Plebeians and release those imprisoned because of debt. Further, they enacted a new government office, the tribune of the people, which was meant to protect the Plebeians from further oppressive acts of the Patrician
Magistrate. The tribune had two Plebeians appointed to it and given veto power over decisions that would bear unjustly upon any citizen.
The gross injustice politically and economically could only last so long