Plebians


  • Rule of kings is replaced by rule of two consuls
  • consuls are elected officials
  • term of office: one year
  • always aristocrats (patricians)
  • patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor, or pater (father)
  • duties: dealing justice, making law, commanding the army
  • one consult could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual)
  • fifth century BCE- patrician dominance of the plebs were 98% of the population
  • how did the partitions dominance
  • - plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office
  • - plebs were threatened with debt slavery
  • -plebs had no legal rights
  • plebeians were victims of discrimination decisions in judicial trials
  • Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs
  • partitions could interpret these to their own advantage

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