Social Class Pyramid
                     SOCIAL CLASS 
PYRAMID
INTRODUCTION
a hierarchic distribution of power seen in social 
structures that are in a pyramid shape. Power is 
given to a few people at the top and each 
descending tier represents more people with a 
diminished level of power.
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SOURCE: psychologydictionary.org
 HISTORY OF ROME
Ancient Roman civilization rose out of a mix of 
different cultures. The city of Rome itself began 
life as a group of small villages clinging to the hills 
above the River Tiber.
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SOURCE: www.twinkl.co.in
ROMAN SOCIAL CLASSES 
PYRAMID
By 600 BCE, these villages had grown into a 
sophisticated city-state - ruled over by a king. In 
this city-state, the first Roman social classes 
pyramid was borne.
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SENATE
Several kings ruled before they were overthrown 
by a group of newly powerful Roman aristocrats in 
the year 509 BCE. 
After the success of the coup, the Roman Republic 
was born. The aristocrats developed what was 
known as the senate and ruled over all of Rome.
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CLASS DIVISIONS
Within the Roman Republic, and later, the Roman 
Empire. The Roman Social Classes Pyramid 
developed, it had strict class divisions - which 
were heavily influenced by family background, 
wealth and gender.
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SOURCE: www.twinkl.co.in
CONTROVERSY BY 
DIFFERENT CLASSES
It was very uncommon for people to move between 
the different levels of the pyramid (although not 
impossible). Due to this, there was, at times, 
revolts when anger or controversy was felt by 
different classes.
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SOURCE: www.twinkl.co.in
LIFE AS A NON-FREE 
PERSON
Enslaved people were a common sight throughout 
the city of Rome and in every other part of the 
Roman territory. A wealthy Roman citizen might 
own up to 400 or 500 enslaved people. 
The jobs one of these people might have were 
varied:
1. Most enslaved people worked as labourers and were 
expected to construct the vast buildings, roads and 
temples throughout Rome.
2. Some worked with a household, they would cook, clean and 
look after children.
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SOURCE: www.twinkl.co.in
LIFE AS A FREE PERSON
Apart from enslaved people, 'plebeians' were the 
largest demographic of the Roman Social Classes 
Pyramid and includes the subclasses of 'Latins' 
and 'Foreigners'. They were the working class of 
Roman society and the average working citizen.
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SOURCE: www.twinkl.co.in
THANK YOU
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