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History of Rome: | The Origins of Rome | The seven Kings of Rome | The Conquest of Italy and the Punic Wars | The Republic and social struggle | The Republic in crisis | Julius Caesar and the end of the Republic | Augustus and the Empire | The Julio Claudian dynasty | The Five Good Emperors | Other Emperors | Emperor Constantine and Christianisation |Fall of the Roman Empire of the West |

Aspects of Rome: | Religion and Mithras | Schools | Literature | Games, Sport and Pass-times | Food | Social Structure and Class | Government & Law |Shopping | Economy of Ancient Rome | Roman Coins | Building and Engineering | Art | Dress and Clothing |Early Christianity |  The Gladiators | Gory Martyrdoms | The Vestal Virgins |

| Introduction | Patricians, Plebeians, Slaves and Clients | The hate for Tyrants and Kings | Senate, Assembly and Comitia Curiata | Magistrates, Consuls, Tribunes and Praetors | The Army and the State | Roots of Social Unrest in Rome | Evolution and Structure of the Roman State |

Social Unrest in Rome

The Kings had in fact brought wealth to Rome. The Patricians were happy as they got a cut of the booty. The Plebeians on the other hand were increasingly unhappy: they were forced to join in the fighting of wars but they got no share of the wealth. Furthermore, the plebeians tended to be poor and this meant that time spent out at war was time spent away from work and hence a need to borrow and be subjected to horrific usury and even slavery.

The rich became richer and the poor became poorer and whilst in the early days the claim to Roman Citizenship of the Patricians seemed well justified this right grew thinner and thinner as many generations later the population, size of the city-state and political arena of Rome had completely changed.

The first two centuries of the Republic were characterised by an interesting situation of social unrest coupled with military conquest abroad, first across Italy and then Carthage and the Mediterranean trade routes. This was quickly followed by expansion eastward when the Greek cities called for Roman aid against enemies such as the Macedonians. Clearly the Romans hoped for nothing less and shortly achieved dominion not only of Greece but also of Asia Minor. Egypt was under Roman control by 30BC.

The enormous territorial expansion and the subsequent influx of wealth (and slaves) to the city fed the need for a re-adjustment in social structure. Rome and indeed the whole of Italy were shaken by violent political and social unrest. The Plebeians grew tired and hungry and threatened to leave Rome, the Patricians worried and gave up morsels of power. The least they could give up the better. However little by little the plebeians gained ground.

Read on about the changing structure of government in ancient Rome.

| Introduction | Patricians, Plebeians, Slaves and Clients | The hate for Tyrants and Kings | Senate, Assembly and Comitia Curiata | Magistrates, Consuls, Tribunes and Praetors | The Army and the State | Roots of Social Unrest in Rome | Evolution and Structure of the Roman State |

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This page about Rome history was written by Giovanni Milani-Santarpia for www.mariamilani.com - Rome apartments