The society of the ancient Romans has often been considered the basis of our modern society. When you think of Roman society, images of large villas and senators wearing togas come to mind. Furthermore, Roman society is often associated with grand celebrations and extravagances among the wealthy. There is more to Rome, however, than these symbols, and classical Roman society has a complicated history that spans the history of the ancient city and involves family, home, education, and much more. The social structure of ancient Rome was based on inheritance, property, wealth, citizenship and freedom. It was also based on men: women were defined by the social status of their fathers or husbands. Women were expected to take care of homes and very few enjoyed any real independence. The three main social classes in ancient Rome were the patricians, the plebeians and the slaves. The patricians were the rich Romans and for the rich Romans life was good. They lived in beautiful homes, often in the hills outside Rome, away from the noise and smell. They enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle with luxurious furnishings, surrounded by servants and slaves to fulfill their every desire. Many hosted exclusive dinners and served their guests the exotic dishes of the day. Many patricians were powerful leaders in the government or army. The plebeians belonged more to the poor group of the Romans and the poorer Romans, however, could only dream of such a life. Sweating in the city, they lived in squalid, dirty houses that could collapse or burn at any moment. If times were tough, they might abandon newborns on the streets, hoping that someone else would take them in as servants or slaves. Poor in wealth but strong in numbers, they were the Roman rabble, who relaxed in front of the popular shows of the time, the chariot races between opposing teams, or the gladiators fighting for their lives, fame and fortune. Even though their lives may have been different, they had some things in common. In every Roman family life, the head of the family was a man. Although his wife took care of the house, he controlled it. He alone could own property. Only he decided the fate of his children and who they would marry. The ancient Romans were known to keep slaves, and everyone, including people of the lower classes, had at least one slave.