How did class conflict lead to the age of men in Giambattista Vico’s theory?

In the philosophy of Giambattista Vico, the transition to the "age of men" is a direct consequence of class conflict between the patricians and the plebeians.1

In Vico’s historical framework, society progresses through three distinct stages. The "age of heroes" is characterized by a rigid social structure where family leaders maintain power and society is strictly divided between these two classes. The "age of men" emerges only after the plebeians struggle against this hierarchy to achieve equal rights.1

While this stage represents a period of rational development, Vico observed that it is inherently precarious. The age of men is susceptible to corruption and social dissolution, which can eventually lead to a decline in moral sentiments and a potential reversion to a primitive, "bestial" state of barbarism. Vico believed that Providence plays a vital role in guiding history to prevent humanity from being destroyed by these recurring cycles of growth and decay.1