Rome: Challenges from withinSOCIAL STUDIES FOR 9 T H EGBTEACHER: MAURICIO TORRES

Introduction

• When Rome was facing several enemies from outside, within it had its own set problems.

• Class divisions affected the way politics were handled.

• This led to several changes in the Roman government system.

Social Classes in Rome

Plebeians

• The plebeians were the common people. – Shopkeepers, crafts people, and skilled or unskilled

workers might be plebeian

• Being a “pleb”:– Plebeians were excluded from magistracies and

religious colleges, and they were not permitted to know the laws by which they were governed.

– Plebeians served in the army, but rarely became military leaders.

• They called for changes in government and wanted more of a say in how the city was run.

Patricians

• The patricians were a powerful ruling class.– The first 100 men appointed as senators by Romulus

were referred to as "fathers" (patres), and the descendants of those men became the Patrician class.

– The distinction between patricians and plebeians in Ancient Rome was based purely on birth.

• They were the only people who could be elected to hold government offices.– Therefore, they held all political power.

Roman Society

• How were Patricians and plebeians different?

Patricians Plebeians

Wealthy, powerful citizens Common people

NoblesPeasants,

craftsmen, traders, other workers.

Small minority Majority

Controlled all aspects of

government

Gained right to participate

Changing Government

• Even though plebeians outnumbered the patricians, they were not allowed to participate in government.

• In 494 BC, they formed a council to elect their own officials.

• To the patricians, these events represented a change that could bring a total collapse of their society.

• They feared that the Republic would fall apart.

• Then the patricians decided to cooperate and change the government, before major revolutions could tear Rome apart.

Class Struggle

• Even though these events happened almost 2500 years ago, in the last two centuries they are still contemporary.

• In the 1800s, German born, Karl Marx discussed these class disputes, which later became the basis for his theories: MARXISM

• According to Marx:– a class is formed when its

members achieve class consciousness and solidarity.

– This largely happens when the members of a class become aware of their exploitation and the conflict with another class.

– A class will then realize their shared interests and a common identity. According to Marx, a class will then take action against those that are exploiting the lower classes.

Ask Yourself• Contrast:

– What are the main differences between the plebeians and the patricians?

• Infer:– Why do you think the word patrician comes from “patre”?– What reasons did the plebeians use to revolt?

• Recall:– What determined who was a patrician or a plebeian?

• Compare:– Is our society today in any way like the Roman Republic’s?– Does the “Revolución Ciudadana” use Marxist theories in their

propaganda?

Bibliography

• Burstein, S. M., & Shek, R. (2012). World History (Teacher´s Edition) (1st Edition ed.). (H. McDougal, Ed.) Orlando, Florida, US.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

• Images taken from Google.