GROUP 6

NAME REG NO
KAYANJA ERIC 22/U/ARD/1514/PD
KIMEDI ALIMAS 22/U/ARD/3842/PD
OYUNAI JONATHAN 22/U/ARD/3361/PD
NAMIIRO VIOLA 22/U/ARD/3907/PD
ROMAN SOCIAL GROUPS AND SOCIAL UNITS
Introduction
Social class refers to a group of people within a society who possess the same social
economic status.

The social classes in Rome were formal, every individual had records that were kept
and being wealthy would not grantee changing your class level. There were three
basic divisions in Roman society namely
Citizens,
Noncitizens
Slaves
The Roman Citizenship was considered the utmost importance within the roman
society. Foreigners had totally very different set of rights within and outside the
city. For instance,
Rome had different courts to hear cases in which foreigners were involved.
Rights depended on the relationship of your home country with Rome.
The rights which could be granted included;
Free movement over borders
Trading privileges
Slaves had few rights and were a property of their master, master would even
kill their slaves without court repercussions. The prisoners captured from
defeated lands after battles, originally individuals who failed to pay their debts
and children born in slavery were taken as slaves.

The social classes in roman society include;

Patricians
Plebeian
Patricians
Patrician comes from a latyin word “Patres” meaning “ fathers” and
these families provided the empire’s political , religious and military
leadership.

They were mainly landowners from old families (upper class)

This class was open to a chosen few who had been deliberately
promoted by the emperor.
The patricians were a small percentage of the Roman population and
the held all the power .

Some of the patricians families included Julia (Julius Cearsar), Cornelia,

Claudia, Fabia and Valeria .

Only man were allowed to vote during politics time.

Plebeians
Plebeians were the vast majority of the society and constituted of a
social class of the common folk.

Ancient Rome initially had no political rights and they were not close to
any political sphere

Some of the poorest plebeians would sell their children or even

themselves for slaves to access the houses of rich patricians for
education and better life style.
While at the rich patricians homes, the plebeians were allowed
education, earned some money for their survival, they also earned
freedom and eventually allowed their descendants to ascend to the
social ladder.

Some of the activities the plebeians had were ;craftsmanship , artisans,

bakers, farmers , traders, others joined the army.

Some plebeians later owned small plots of land which was rare until the
second century .

The plebeians were tied to the patrician through clientele system of

patronage which saw them assisting their patricians patrons in war
augmenting their social status and raising ransoms .
In 450BC , Plebeians were banned from marrying from the patricians
families but the law was removed.

In 444BC , the office of the military tribune with consular powers was
created which enabled plebeians who passed through this office to
serve in the senate once their one year term was completed.

Plebeians remained for the most part dependant on the patricians.

Freed men and Slaves
These social classes were part of the plebeians.
Freed men were people who were once slaves and later earned the
freedom and became full citizens.

Slaves were not citizens amd laxcked ebven legal standing accorded
free born foreigners. They were treated as properties or goods sold like
any other goods in Rome.
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