During this period society was dominated by the senatorial class and the equestrians. Originally the two classes could not intermarry so your position in society was determined entirely by birth.Īt the end the Republican period 27 BC, this began to change as the exclusive privileges of the patrician class were eroded in favour of a modified class system that took account of both your family and your wealth. Membership was hereditary, and gave you access to many exclusive privileges including the right to take part in the Roman Senate and to hold important religious positions.Īll other Roman citizens were known as plebians (common people). The patricians were an aristocratic class of citizens who were said to have descended from the original founders of Rome. As they mention towards the end of the video, Roman Society was structured based on class, with the patrician and then the senatorial class dominating the rest of society.
