Ancient Rome
Roman Class System
509 B.C.E.
Essential Standards
• 6.C.1 Explain how the behaviors and practices
of individuals and groups influenced
societies, civilizations and regions.
Clarifying Objectives
• 6.C.1.3 Summarize systems of social structure
within various civilizations and societies over time
(e.g., Roman class structure, Indian caste system
and feudal, matrilineal and patrilineal societies).
• 6.C.1.2 Explain how religion transformed various
societies, civilizations and regions (e.g., beliefs,
practices and spread of Buddhism, Christianity,
Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism).
Essential Questions
• How can we see that there were differing
religious viewpoints when we compare
Christianity to the worship of the Cesar as a
god?
• How did the Roman Class System divide
people?
Social Structure
• A Social Structure is how the
people of a certain civilization are
organized
• It usually involves people being
put into a class of people
• Most Social Structures of
civilizations fall into the
categories of ….
①
②
③
④
⑤
Class Systems
Caste Systems
Feudalism
Matrilineal
Patrilineal
Roman Class Structure
• There were 6 Social
Classes in Ancient Rome
① Consul
② Senators
③ Equestrians
④ Commons
⑤ Freed people
⑥ Slaves
Emperor (Cesar)
• Emperor was above the
Roman Class System
• They were always #1
• The Emperor was looked
at as a god in the Roman
Empire
• Roman citizens literally
worshiped him
Essential Questions
• Get with a partner and answer….
• How can we see that there were differing
religious viewpoints when we compare
Christianity to the worship of the Cesar as a
god?
Roman Class Structure
• The Roman Class System is
broken into 2 different
categories….
① Patricians
② Plebeians
• The Patricians are members
of the UPPER CLASS
• The Plebeians are members
of the LOWER CLASS
Essential Questions
• Get with a partner and answer….
• How did the Roman Class System divide
people?
Patricians (UPPER CLASS)
• Patricians were the
UPPER CLASS
• They were believed to
be descended from
Romulus or Remus
• Patricians included….
– Consol (Vice President)
– Senators (law makers)
Consol
• Consol was the leader of
the Roman Class System
• There were 2 Consoles
that got elected every
year from the Senate
• They in control of Rome
but only got a 1 year term
Senator
• Senators were the
lawmakers of Rome
• There were 300
hundred senators
• They decided how
Rome’s money was
spent
Senator
• They were in charge of
collecting taxes
• They were also in
charge of relationships
with other civilizations
• They were chosen by
the Consul & were
elected for LIFE
Plebeians (LOWER CLASS)
• Plebeians were members of
the LOWER CLASS of
Ancient Rome
• These were people that
were not descendents of
Romulus & Remes
• Plebeians included…
①
②
③
④
Equestrians
Commoners
Freed People
Slaves
Equestrian
• Equestrians were the
start of the Plebeian Class
• They were the warriors &
protectors of the Roman
Empire
• These were members of
the Roman Legions
(military)
Commoner
• Commoners were
people that were plain
citizens of Rome
• These people would be
like you & I in America
• They were free & they
were citizens
Freed People
• Freed People were people
that had either earned their
freedom or bought their
freedom
• Freed People used to be
slaves from other countries
that Rome had conquered
• They could never be citizens
but they were free
Slave
• Slaves were at the bottom
of the Roman Class
System
• These were the only
people that were not
“FREE” in the Roman
Republic
• They did mostly manual
labor like building
structures & farming
Rules of Roman Class Structure
• Patricians were NEVER
allowed to MARRY
Plebeians (Upper &
Lower Class never
married)
• In addition Plebeians
could only get so high in
government
Important Points
• 6.C.1.3 (Social
Structure) The Social
Structure of the
Romans was called the
ROMAN CLASS SYSTEM
• 6.C.1.3 (Social
Structure) There were 2
classes of people
PARTICIANS & PLEBIENS
• 6.C.1.2 (Religion)
Ancient Rome was
Polytheistic &
Monotheistic. Some
Romans believed in
Jesus Christ while most
believed that the Cesar
was a god