Patricians and Plebeians at Rome

It has been widely held since the days of Aretino (1369-1444) and more scientifically since those of Niebuhr, that the Patricians and the Plebeians were in origin two different peoples or races. I propose to show, firstly, that the Plebeians were never a people or a race at all; secondly, that the differences to which attention has been drawn are differences within the Patrician body itself, the result of its development from at least three stocks. My grounds for the former view are largely negative—the inadequacy of the arguments adduced by Niebuhr and his supporters, down to and including Binder and Piganiol; for the latter, I think strong positive arguments may be found, some of which, well observed but ill interpreted, form the most respectable props of the view which I discard

Ancient history · Genealogy · Race (biology · Sociology · Classics · Gender Studies · History · Reformation and Early Modern Christianity