Page 7 - My FlipBook

ROMAN SOCIETY

Starting in 27 B.C.
People settled along the Tiber River in the 8th century

b.c. They were farmers. But they were also soldiers. EMPEROR
head of society and ruler of the empire
They took over many places. Then they built roads

leading back to Rome. PATRICIANS

wealthy, landowning families

SENATORS
governed Rome

EQUESTRIANS
wealthy property owners involved in business
ventures such as collecting taxes, government
contracts, banking, mining, and exports
rather than politics

PLEBEIANS
commoners; farmers, bakers, builders,
artisans, craftsmen, etc.; citizens who
worked for a living

FREEDMEN
former slaves who worked for a living

SLAVES
most commonly prisoners of war
or abandoned children

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