A plebeian was a common citizen of Rome, not belonging to the patrician class. Plebeians made up the majority of Rome’s population and included farmers, artisans, merchants, and laborers.
Although initially excluded from many political rights, plebeians gradually gained significant political power through the establishment of the Tribunes of the Plebs and other reforms.
The Twelve Tables, Rome’s earliest code of law, was a result of plebeian demands for legal transparency and fairness. The plebeians’ struggle for equality with the patricians, known as the Conflict of the Orders, led to significant reforms that shaped the Roman Republic.
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