Which social class in Rome was made up of commoners and the lower class?

The plebeians were the social class in ancient Rome that consisted of commoners and the lower class. This group comprised a significant portion of the population, including farmers, laborers, artisans, and merchants. Plebeians had limited rights compared to the patricians, who were the elite class and held most of the political power in early Roman history. Over time, plebeians fought for and gradually won more rights, including the establishment of the Tribune of the Plebs, who could represent their interests in government.

Other classes, such as the patricians, were composed of Rome’s aristocracy and were influential in political decisions. Senators were typically drawn from the patrician class and held substantial authority in governance. Equestrians, also known as the equites, were a wealthy class below the senatorial class, often involved in commerce and tax collection but were not considered commoners. Hence, the plebeians distinctly represented the commoners and lower-class segments of Roman society.