Roman Social Classes                    

The Romans had different levels of social classes that depended on a person's birth, job or role in society.
This activity will help you to find out more about the different types of people and their power in Roman society.

First, in your journal, make a large triangle and divide it into 3 parts.  This will represent the Roman's social pyramid or social classes.
As you read, take notes on the three different types of classes.
1.  Write the name of each class.
2.  Then, write a brief description or definition containing two facts about each class.
3.  Finally, add in the names of any types of workers or people, that might fall into that social class.

Go to Patricians v. Plebeians to  find out some basic information about the social classes.

Next,  look at how these two types of people changed over time and add any information to your chart.
Visit the site called Roma:  Society in the Era of the Republic
Compare this page to Roma:  Society in the Era of the Empire
 
 

Finally,  go to the website entitled, The Social Order.
Here you will find more detailed information about each class.
Look at the menu bar at the top of the page to view the five types of people in the social order.
Here you will add the lowest social class to your pyramid.
Browse through the other people and place them into one of the three levels in your pyramid.

                Bonus Question:

Go to the website, Women in Ancient Rome
Where did women fit into the social classes?  How were they treated differently?