The Patricians and Plebeian all together made up the Roman Republic. But they were not entirely treated equally. Although both had some rights, unlike slaves but they did not share equal rights both economically and politically. Plebeians had a relatively insignificant influence on the society and government, while the patricians took advantage, treating them unjustly and unfairly. And ultimately, this all led to what would become a plebeian revolt within Rome. We will now explore the economic and political differences that led to the plebeians’ unrest, but first let’s look at the first revolt and its results.
Circumstances of revolt
Basically, the patricians were richer than the plebeians who resided in the outskirts of the city, beyond its protective walls, thus the plebeians’ possessions more susceptible to damage and loss. It causes plebeians sinking even deeper into poverty. For financial assistance poor plebeians needed to turn nowhere else to the patricians themselves. The patricians would lend them money knowing of their inability or incompetence to pay back and pass laws that exercised various forms of punishment to the debtor and enabled the lender to the ownership of the debtor properties. They called this law, “the law of debt.” Morey (1901) says that, “…its effect was to keep the poor in a continual state of poverty, from which they could not easily escape.”
When enemy territory conquered after defeated them in war the victorious people fairly or evenly possess the new lands. The patricians did not at all exercise this courtesy to the plebeians. Instead, they unfairly took full control and ownership of the lands and refused the plebeians and share in it. This is also another circumstance that fueled the plebeian revolt.
The revolt and Results
In this plebeians revolt they decided to abandon the military in which they served, knowing that it was an essential part of the Roman government. They set out to form a new settlement, to become an independent people with their own land. The patricians realized that they could not afford this lose so they reconsidered the harsh laws and removed the plebeian debt and escaped form imprisonment the prisoners due to the reason of debt. The patricians also allowed for the first time, a plebeian participation in state affairs. These would be two plebeians known as ‘tribunes’ that could interfere with unjust treatment of any citizen- but mainly of course for plebeian citizens. Thus plebeian’s revolt brought positive result to them both in economic and political aspects.
The plebian revolts were a response to their unfair treatment by the patricians. The plebeians in attempting to reclaim their rightful place in society were very persistent and brave in making their demands heard and known to the patricians and finally able to get success. The result of this revolt was that they dug themselves from the lower ranks of power all the way to the top where real power and freedom resided.