Why the Status Quo?
Rome is a great empire built on seven rolling hills at a curve on the Tiber River. As legend has it, the city of Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, twins born from the god Mars and a Latin princess. They were left on the Tiber River and raised by a she-wolf. When the twins grew older, they decided to build a city near that spot. Since its birth, Rome has been rising in popularity and power. With the city's increasing influence, it is expected that people will rise in power. With people rising in power, it is foretold that a distinction between the rich and the poor will be made.
Even though the patricians and the plebeians are different in many ways, they do some similar things together. For example, they both go to the Forum to be entertained. Not only that, they both have the concept of pater familias. Since the beginning of Rome, the basic unit of Roman society was the family. The oldest male is at the head of the family (usually the father). The father owns his wife, children, and slaves. He could do whatever he wants with them, such as selling them or putting them to death. Everybody in one family lives under one roof.
In Rome, adult freemen from both the patrician and plebeian class are citizens. Women, children, and slaves are not.
In Rome, adult freemen from both the patrician and plebeian class are citizens. Women, children, and slaves are not.
Slaves
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As the Roman empire continues to expand through conquest, slaves are brought to Rome. These slaves arrive from places that Rome defeated. They are the property of the person who bought them. They have no free will or voting rights. Slaves can perform all sorts of jobs and in many cases, are extremely well educated people. A slave can be made into a freed man by the father (or whoever is at the head of the family).
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