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The Etruscans ruled Rome and divided social classes into two:
- Upper - class citizens called patricians
- Lower - class citizens called plebeians -
A group of patricians rebelled and drove out the last Etruscan king. They created a republic in which a senate (a group of 300 men the patricians elected) ruled.
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The plebeians were angry because of their lack of power so they decided to march out of the city and camp on a nearby hill until they have met their demands. Patricians feared that the army
would be helpless if an enemy struck at Rome so they decided to make changes. -
The patricians agreed to change the law in order for the plebians to have power but they always changed the law. Plebeians protested and finally on 451 B.C.E, the laws were written down in tablets called the Twelve Tablets.
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The plebeians gained the right to pass laws for all Roman citizens and, there were assemblies in which all Roman citizens could approve or reject laws.
