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 and 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.

This extraordinary and entertaining account places Rome's working people at the heart of the story for the first time, showing how they unwittingly helped lay the foundations of our political system.