Ancient Rome Hierarchy

1. Social Groups in the Roman Empire

2. Social Groups in the Roman Empire

3. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Senators and
Administrators of the
Empire
Nobles
Patricians and wealthy Plebians
Plebians
(Plebs)
Freedmen
Slaves

4. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Senators and
Administrators of the
Empire
This class of ancient Rome
social hierarchy got its
position due to the political
power that it possesses. The
class included all men who
served in the senate. This
class was dominated by the
nobles. The nobles were the
families whose ancestors
included at least one
ambassador. At that time, a
man with a property value
worth 800,000 sesterces was
able to earn a lifelong
membership to the senatorial
class for the whole family.

5. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Nobles
Patricians and wealthy Plebians
All the officials and the
advisories position of the king
were occupied by the
members of the wealthiest
families known as the
patricians. After the
dissolution of the monarch
rule, the patricians took
control over the city and
formed the basis of
aristocracy.

6. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Plebians
(Plebs)
The "plebs" were the vast
majority of society and
they constituted a social
class made of the common
folk. Generally speaking
they were the descendants
of people who had come
to Rome after the Patrician
families had founded it.
Possibly they
were descended from
freed men or simple
immigrants. Craftsmen,
peasants, and urban
plebs.

7. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Freedmen
The men and women
belonging to this class
were slaves in the early
days but have now
recovered their freedom.
However, they were not
fully freed and they
have had various
restrictions regarding
their legal rights. They
are not eligible for
working in the public
offices.

8. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Slaves
This was the lowest class
of the Roman hierarchy
and they don’t have any
freedom of their own.
They were the property of
their masters. The lord of
the house had the same
rights over his slaves as he
did over his wife and
children. He could make a
slave into a free man or
sell one of his own family
members into slavery.

9. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Senators and
Administrators of the
Empire
Nobles
Patricians and wealthy Plebians
Plebians
(Plebs)
Freedmen
Slaves

10. Social Groups in the Roman Empire
Senators and
Administrators of the
Empire
Nobles
Patricians and wealthy Plebians
Plebians
(Plebs)
Freedmen
Slaves