ROME in the time of cicero

Ancient Roman society in particular had a distinct structure regarding the social
classes, in other words, a hierarchy similar to that of the varnas in India. The highest-ranking Roman families were either patricians or equestrians, where the lowest were the plebeians. Women in Rome were also treated differently according to their class, though they all had something in common, lack of freedom with submission to men. Beginning with the equites, or equestrians, this social class originally included horsemen and knights and formed the Calvary at Rome. Through time, as do all terms, the equites eventually came to be known as the wealthy business or capitalist class. In the business class, there were opportunities for the equites to make money within the provinces, including tax collec...