Such offensive word "plebeian" ... Who is this?

In Russian, the word "plebeian" has acquired a clearly negative, disparaging meaning. But does it deserve such an attitude to itself? Is the term "plebeian" synonymous with the notion of "limit", "gopot" or the well-defined Russian expression "pork snout" (which, as you know, can not be taken into the kalashny series)? Yes and no. In order to understand this complex concept, you need to delve into the history of Ancient Rome, and if more accurately, at the time of the founding of the Eternal City. Then there were no patricians and plebeians, slaves and their masters. But there were already some prerequisites for their appearance.

The end of the "golden age"

When the wolf-fed Romulus founded a city on one of the hills of present Rome, he outlined his borders with a plow. Inside this circle, he settled people who became known as citizens. This social formation was ruled by senators - mature men, who enjoyed authority among the people. They were called senex - Elders, or patres - Fathers. Later these words turned into "Senators" and "Patricians". The last named both children, and grandsons of senators.

A century later it was a real caste, which markedly rose in standard of living and social position from other citizens of Rome. But the plebeian? This is who did not get lucky to live on a hill inside the circle outlined by Romulus. They were not considered citizens, did not have the right to use communal lands. This does not mean that they were poor. No, there were some among them who succeeded in life and were able to buy an allotment of land. They could be artisans and small traders. But these people did not have the rights of citizens.

How did the plebeians appear?

The population of the Eternal City was growing indefinitely not only due to natural growth. It was replenished by slaves, who were brought from military campaigns as trophies. But there were also voluntary immigrants. They came to Rome in search of a better life, earnings, market. These "come in large numbers" the indigenous inhabitants of the city - descendants of the fathers - began to be called "plebs" (from the Latin word "plere", which means "to fill").

Initially, this past population lived outside the walls of Rome, that is, it was not protected from possible enemy attacks. But later they were allowed to settle within the city. Then the definition of "plebeians" changed somewhat. This word denoted a man of free estate, who enjoys economic, but not civil and political rights.

A plebeian is who?

Citizens of ancient Rome loved caste. The rights and duties of the tribes were elaborated in detail. The former undeveloped population - the plebeians - were divided by ethnicity into Latin, Etruscan and Sabine. They occupied an intermediate stage between the "Roman people" (the descendants of the impoverished, but patrician) and slaves who had no rights and were treated as a thing in a legal sense.

Such a social situation was not entirely satisfactory to the representatives of the plebs, who worked on an equal footing with citizens, served in the army, and therefore also wanted to take part in the life of the city and (later) the Republic. Therefore, from the V-III century BC fierce struggle for the rights of "limits" was conducted. And in the end it was crowned with success. Since the III century. BC. E. To the question: "A plebeian is who?" - followed a proud answer: "A full member of the Roman Nation". For members of this class, debt servitude was abolished, and they gained access to elective posts in higher magistracies. The rich plebeians, together with the patricians, formed a nobility.

The right to vote, or "Bread and circuses!"

At first, representatives of the urban poor were able to choose the Plebe Tribune in the Council. These officials formed a special body - the Plebiscite. A familiar word, is not it? In 287 BC. E. These new citizens demanded - and achieved success - that the decrees of this body became binding on all citizens of Rome. So the poorest and most powerless people have achieved that they are respected. And their active civil position helped them in this.

But later, during the time of the empire, in order to appease the plebs and distract him from social problems, the rulers of Rome began to distribute bread to the urban poor and arrange spectacles - gladiatorial fights. So since then, it has gone: to draw joy from premium and serials from TVs, where state propaganda is pouring into the brains. And now guess: the plebeian is who?