PLEBEIANS Meaning and
Definition
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Plebeians refers to the common people or ordinary citizens of ancient Rome, particularly during the period of the Roman Republic (509 - 27 BCE) and early Roman Empire (27 BCE - 284 CE). Derived from the Latin term "plebs," meaning the common folk, the plebeians held a lower social status compared to the privileged aristocracy. In the political context of ancient Rome, the term often refers to the general populace distinct from the ruling patrician class.
As a social class, plebeians typically consisted of farmers, laborers, artisans, and small landowners. They constituted the majority of Rome's population and lived primarily in the urban areas of Rome, known as the city-state or polis.
The plebeians initially lacked the same legal rights and political influence as the patricians, which led to a significant struggle for equal representation in political decision-making processes known as the Conflict of the Orders. Through continuous political agitation and organized efforts, the plebeians gradually gained more rights and representation, leading to the establishment of two plebeian tribunes who could veto patrician decisions and the codification of laws that protected their interests, such as the Twelve Tables.
Despite their socioeconomic standing, some plebeians managed to rise to influential positions within Roman society through military or political achievements. Over time, the barriers between plebeians and patricians diminished, eventually leading to the dissolution of the social distinction between them in the late Roman Republic and the official end of the designation in the later Roman Empire.
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Etymology of PLEBEIANS
The word "plebeians" comes from the Latin word "plebs", which referred to the common people or the lower social classes in ancient Rome. In Roman society, the plebeians were distinct from the patricians, who were the aristocratic class. Over time, the term "plebeians" has come to mean ordinary people or the general populace.
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