Plebeians were known as which group?

• A. The aristocratic class in ancient Rome
• B. The Emperor
• C. The common people of ancient Rome, who had limited rights
• D. The priests

Answer: (C)

Roman social structure divided patricians, the hereditary aristocracy, from plebeians, the common people who were free citizens but initially lacked equal political power. Plebeians did most of the daily work and served in the army, yet they faced legal and political restrictions—they couldn't hold the highest offices or certain priestly positions at first. The ongoing struggles between these groups led to reforms that gradually expanded plebeian rights, such as the creation of tribunes to protect their interests and the passage of laws that limited patrician rule. So, plebeians are defined as the common people of ancient Rome who had limited rights, especially early in the Republic.