The correct statements are:
- Commoners who could not repay what they owed became victims of debt bondage.
- Commoners were expected to serve as unpaid soldiers when necessary, and even supply their own equipment.
In the early days of the Roman Republic, the common people (known as the plebeians) faced several problems. One of the main issues was debt bondage, which occurred when a person could not repay their debts and became a slave to their creditor. This was a common problem among poor farmers who had borrowed money to buy seeds and equipment.
Another issue was the expectation that commoners would serve as unpaid soldiers when necessary, and even supply their own equipment. This put a heavy burden on the plebeians, who had to leave their farms and families to fight in wars without any compensation.
The statement "commoners had no rights at all and the patricians held absolute power over them" is not entirely correct. While the patricians held more political power than the plebeians, the common people did have some rights and were able to gain more political power over time through struggles and reforms.
The statement "commoners were barred from marrying patricians" is also not entirely correct. While there were restrictions on marriage between patricians and plebeians, these restrictions were gradually relaxed over time and eventually abolished.
Therefore, the correct answers are:
- Commoners who could not repay what they owed became victims of debt bondage.
- Commoners were expected to serve as unpaid soldiers when necessary, and even supply their own equipment.