How did the social class structure of Rome change?

The social class structure of Rome evolved significantly over time, particularly from the Republic to the Empire. Initially, society was divided into patricians (aristocratic families) and plebeians (commoners), with political power concentrated in the hands of the patricians. However, as plebeians gained more rights through struggles like the Conflict of the Orders, they began to attain greater political and economic influence, leading to a more complex social hierarchy. By the Imperial period, new classes emerged, including equestrians, and the distinctions became less rigid, reflecting a society increasingly defined by wealth and status rather than strict lineage.