Ranks and Classes
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Ranks and classes were very important to the Romans. Society was divided up into different levels and classes, there were three main classes:
1. Roman Citizens
2. Non-Citizens or Provincials
3. Slaves
Within each of these classes there were sub-divisions. Citizen has more privileges that provincials an slaves. But this meant that they ha to serve Rome by voting in elections and serving in the army or government. Provincials were not able to vote and had to pay taxes that the Citizens did not have to pay. Slaves were owned (unless they became Freedmen) and they had no rights at all.
Citizens were divided into two groups.
1. Patricians
2. Plebeians
The Patricians were the leading citizens of Rome. In the republic Rome was ruled by the Senate, the heart of the Government. The Senate was made up of 300 men who came from the Patrician families. They had to be very rich and were expected to spend lots of money on entertaining and paying for public buildings.
In government the most senior position was consul, two consuls were elected each year to lead the senate. After being a consul, a man could the go on to be a pro-consul and govern one of the Roman provenances. The senate was controlled by the emperor.
1. Roman Citizens
2. Non-Citizens or Provincials
3. Slaves
Within each of these classes there were sub-divisions. Citizen has more privileges that provincials an slaves. But this meant that they ha to serve Rome by voting in elections and serving in the army or government. Provincials were not able to vote and had to pay taxes that the Citizens did not have to pay. Slaves were owned (unless they became Freedmen) and they had no rights at all.
Citizens were divided into two groups.
1. Patricians
2. Plebeians
The Patricians were the leading citizens of Rome. In the republic Rome was ruled by the Senate, the heart of the Government. The Senate was made up of 300 men who came from the Patrician families. They had to be very rich and were expected to spend lots of money on entertaining and paying for public buildings.
In government the most senior position was consul, two consuls were elected each year to lead the senate. After being a consul, a man could the go on to be a pro-consul and govern one of the Roman provenances. The senate was controlled by the emperor.