The Social Classes of Ancient Rome
The Emperor
Patrician Families
Senators
Equestrians
Plebians
Slaves
Sources
Sources: honadmin. 2013. “Roman Society and Social Classes: How Were They Structured?” History. November 19, 2013. https://www.historyonthenet.com/roman-society-and-social-classes. Photos: “Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past.” 2025. Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past. October 17, 2025. https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/patricians-and-plebeians-0011266. Tibi Puiu. 2025. “The Numbers behind Ancient Rome: Stats That Define *The* Supercity of the Ancient World.” ZME Science. January 24, 2025. https://www.zmescience.com/science/history-articles/ancient-rome-numbers-repubz/. Hays, Jeffrey. 2023. “Plebeians and Patricians in the Early Roman Republic | Early European History and Religion — Facts and Details.” Factsanddetails.com. 2023. https://europe.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-1051.html. “Slavery in Ancient Rome - Wikipedia.” 2025. Wikipedia.org. 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_ancient_Rome.
Plebians
The Plebians were the lower class, average citizens and had no political power. They worked on patricians' land and lived in small apartments. Often, Plebians would take up the opportunity to become clients/obediant servants for a patrician family. This means that they would offer their services in exchange for protection from the head of the Patrician family, who would become their patron.
Patrician Families
The Patricians are the wealthy upper class, with most of them being decendants of ancient and powerful noble families. They were landowners with large estates and had lots of political power in the senate.
Slaves
The slaves of Ancient Rome were often prisoners off war, although sometimes they were also abandoned children who were owned by their master. Certain slaves were also given to oppotunity to become free slaves by either paying for it or freedom being given to them. Freed slaves then worked for a living after being freed.
The Social Classes of Ancient Rome
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Transcript
The Social Classes of Ancient Rome
The Emperor
Patrician Families
Senators
Equestrians
Plebians
Slaves
Sources
Sources: honadmin. 2013. “Roman Society and Social Classes: How Were They Structured?” History. November 19, 2013. https://www.historyonthenet.com/roman-society-and-social-classes. Photos: “Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past.” 2025. Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past. October 17, 2025. https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/patricians-and-plebeians-0011266. Tibi Puiu. 2025. “The Numbers behind Ancient Rome: Stats That Define *The* Supercity of the Ancient World.” ZME Science. January 24, 2025. https://www.zmescience.com/science/history-articles/ancient-rome-numbers-repubz/. Hays, Jeffrey. 2023. “Plebeians and Patricians in the Early Roman Republic | Early European History and Religion — Facts and Details.” Factsanddetails.com. 2023. https://europe.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-1051.html. “Slavery in Ancient Rome - Wikipedia.” 2025. Wikipedia.org. 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_ancient_Rome.
Plebians
The Plebians were the lower class, average citizens and had no political power. They worked on patricians' land and lived in small apartments. Often, Plebians would take up the opportunity to become clients/obediant servants for a patrician family. This means that they would offer their services in exchange for protection from the head of the Patrician family, who would become their patron.
Patrician Families
The Patricians are the wealthy upper class, with most of them being decendants of ancient and powerful noble families. They were landowners with large estates and had lots of political power in the senate.
Slaves
The slaves of Ancient Rome were often prisoners off war, although sometimes they were also abandoned children who were owned by their master. Certain slaves were also given to oppotunity to become free slaves by either paying for it or freedom being given to them. Freed slaves then worked for a living after being freed.