Plebs Romana

The untold story of the real people who built an empire

The plebs were the backbone of Roman civilization. They were the farmers who fed the city, the soldiers who conquered the Mediterranean, and the craftsmen who built the monuments we still admire today.

In Plebs Romana, renowned classicist and bestselling author Peter Jones takes readers through the twists and turns of Rome's turbulent history—from bloody conquests and civil wars to street riots and shocking scandals—to reveal how this disparate, downtrodden underclass evolved into a political force that challenged the ruling elite and transformed the Roman Republic.

From debt crises to dinner parties, graffiti to gladiators, slaves to strikes, Jones provides fascinating insights into every aspect of ordinary Roman life.

An extraordinary and entertaining account, Plebs Romana places Rome's working people at the heart of the story, showing how they unwittingly helped lay the foundations of the political systems that continue to shape our world today.