The struggles between the Patricians and Plebeians began about 500 B. C.
The Plebeians fought the battles of Rome, and, in doing so, had to
neglect the tillage of the soil by which they lived. Hence came poverty,
made worse still by a severe law of debt, and by a high rate of interest
extorted by the Patricians, who advanced money. The taxation of the
state was paid solely by the Plebeians, as the Patricians had ceased to
pay their rent to the treasury for the public lands which they held. At
the same time, the Plebeians (which body included many men of birth and
wealth) were entirely excluded from public offices. Such a state of
things could only end in an outbreak, which occurred in 493 B. C.