What is a description of the average plebeian?

Answer 1

Originally the plebeians were the commoners; that is anyone who was not a patrician. The patricians were the Roman aristocracy. The term applied to both rich and poor commoners. Later the rich plebeians were given equite (cavalryman) status. This was the second highest rank in Roman society. The term plebeian came to refer to the poor. These people struggled to eke out a living were often unemployed or underemployed and, when working, underpaid. Some of them were market stall holders or peddlers. Many relied on cash handouts by the rich in exchange for errands, odd jobs and political support. They also lived in overcrowded rooms on the top floors of apartment blocks which did not have running water. They went there only to sleep and lived outdoors. They ate at eating outlets, went to outdoors public toilets and to the public baths and spent their free time playing games and gambling in the streets or at wine bars.