Patricians Vs Plebeians
Patricians in Ancient Rome
The patricians were the rich landowners. They would often have a house in the city and a villa in the country that was run by slaves. Those who were well-off lived in townhouses with central courtyards know as atriums.
Archeological evidence suggests that even the wealthy Romans did not have much furniture. Wealthy Romans ate on low couches in a reclined position. They were known to have large banquets where much food was consumed and the reclining position would help them digest the food. "Dinner might begin with shellfish, hardboiled eggs, olives or smoked fish, washed down with plenty of wine sweetened with honey. The meal then went on to include several meat courses, all heavily spiced with herbs or smothered in sauces, and ended with cakes, pastries, fruit and nuts. The large banquets would have entertainment consisting of music and dancing.
Children in a patrician home had their own bedrooms and plenty of toys. They had personal slaves to carry books to school, to wrestle with, and to meet the child's needs. Mothers and daughters would have slaves to help them with their hair. The popular hairstyle could take hours to develop. Slaves in patrician households rarely had their own bedrooms. They often had to find a place to sleep, or had a spot in the basement.
They felt Caesar was giving their power and rights to the commoners (plebeians)
Plebeians in Ancient Rome
Plebeians were the working class of Ancient Rome. They typically lived in three-or-four story apartment houses called insulae. The insulae were often crowded where two families would have to share a single room. There were no bathrooms in the apartments, so a pot was often used. The pot would be emptied out of the window into the streets, creating very unsanitary and smelly conditions around the apartments. The apartments were built from wood and often badly constructed. It was not unheard of for a building to collapse or start on fire. Slaves in patrician households often lived in better conditions than was found in plebeian apartments.
Plebeian children would follow in the career of their parents. Schooling, if any, was usually only for a couple of years in order for them to learn to read, write and do basic math. Plebeian children usually did not have beds, but if they did, they often had to share it with others in their apartment. The apartments often had no kitchens, so families would pick up food at local take out restaurants or bars. Meals for these people consisted of coarse bread, bean or pea soup, and some porridge. It was a treat if once a month they could include a roasted chicken or rabbit with their meals.
They supported Julius Caesar since he helped keep them employed, gave them money and power in the government. Caesar treated them equal to the Patricians.