Patricians vs Plebeians
By: Brandon Carty and Madisyn Rooney
The Rebellion!
The Plebeians were the lower class, while the Patricians were the higher class. The Patricians would make the Plebeians life miserable and unfair.The Patricians would change laws just for the benefit of themselves, while ignoring the Plebeians. The Plebeians had to fight for what they wanted and their political rights. The struggle between the Plebeians and Patricians is called the Conflict of Orders. The conflict grew especially when in times of war. Plebeians had to fight in the army, even though the Patricians decided whether to go to war. The Plebeians soon resented, the struggle took a dramatic turn in the year 494 B.C.E. The Plebeians were angry because of their lack of power in the government, they marched out of the city and camped on a nearby hill. They had refused to come back until the Patricians met their demands. Rome was in a crisis. Work in the city and on the farms came to a halt. Without the Plebeians the Patricians were afraid that a neighboring tribe would attack and they would be helpless. The Patricians had little choice but to compromise.
Jobs for Plebeians
Plebeians had jobs like laborers, craftspeople, and shopkeepers. Also they were in the army. They had more common jobs then the Patricians.
After the Rebellion
The Plebeians revolt led to a major change in Roman government. The Patricians agreed to let the Plebeians elect officials called Tribunes of the Plebs. The Tribunes spoke for the Plebs in the Senate and with the consuls. Soon the Tribunes were more powerful then before and the Plebeians could make their own Council of Plebs. Plebeians soon gained more important rights. After 200 years of protest the Patricians finally agreed they would publish the laws(451 B.C.E). The laws were then published on tablets called the Twelve Tables.
Jobs for Patricians
The Patricians controlled the most valuable of lands. They also held the important military and religious offices.
Questions!
Fill in the blank -
1. The ____________ controlled the most valuable of lands.
2. The Plebeians were the _________ class while the Patricians were the ________ class.
3. The struggle between the Plebeians and Patricians was called the ________ of _______.
4. The struggle took a dramatic turn in the year ________.
5. Work in the _______ and on the ________ came to a halt.
6. The Patricians had little choice but to __________.
7. The Plebeians were also in the ________.
8. The Patricians held important military and ___________ offices.
2. The Plebeians were the _________ class while the Patricians were the ________ class.
3. The struggle between the Plebeians and Patricians was called the ________ of _______.
4. The struggle took a dramatic turn in the year ________.
5. Work in the _______ and on the ________ came to a halt.
6. The Patricians had little choice but to __________.
7. The Plebeians were also in the ________.
8. The Patricians held important military and ___________ offices.