Things Begin To Approach The Fan The Gracchi Brothers Things Begin To Approach The Fan

Roman Power Grows

I. Problems in the Late Republic By 133 BC, Rome was the supreme power in the Mediterranean world

Rome Has Problems! The biggest Rome’s problems was the masses of poor people created by: Poor recruitment practices (many peasants lost their land) The rich taking over and hoarding all this land (used peasants as slaves) Ironically, the very people who stood up for the people helped bring about the fall of the Roman Republic Who would stand up for the common people????

I. Problems in the Late Republic Political and social revolution began because of tensions between social classes

Soldier/farmers returned from the Punic Wars A. Social Unrest Soldier/farmers returned from the Punic Wars to find their homes and farms destroyed

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS (c.163-133 BC) GAIUS GRACCHUS (c.153-121 BC) A. Social Unrest 133 BC - The Gracchi, brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, tried to resolve problems TIBERIUS GRACCHUS (c.163-133 BC) GAIUS GRACCHUS (c.153-121 BC)

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus with their mother, Cornelia A. Social Unrest The Gracchi instituted public reforms such as redistributing public land to the farmers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus with their mother, Cornelia

Tiberius Gracchus Grandson of Scipio Africanus While serving as quaestor, noticed the plight of the poor Gangs of poor slaves working on the huge farms of the rich (Latifundia) Realized this was due to poor recruitment practices and the abuses of land policies by the wealthy Decided to fight back! 133 BC – Elected tribune Brought back old land policies Put limits on landholding – all extra land to be divided among people

Tiberius Gracchus Challenged the Senate Did not seek Senate approval for bill – skipped them Huge insult – Senate influences one tribune to veto bill Tiberius persuades Assembly to eject this tribune – unprecedented Senate keeps stalling – is uncooperative Tiberius responds by running for re-election – unprecedented Senate outraged – starts riot and murders Tiberius and 300 supporters

Tiberius Proposes Lex Agraria

The Senate Responds

Gaius Gracchus Makes The Scene

What Does Gaius Gracchus Want? He wants to distribute more public land to the plebeians. He wants to make cheap grain available to the poor. He wants to limit the power of the Senate.

Gaius Gracchus – Champion of the People Tiberius’ younger brother Gaius was also loved by the people, very charismatic Furious at his brother’s murder, continued in his footsteps (“Those worst of men have murdered the best of men, my brother!”) Also a quaestor, when running for tribune election, so many came to vote that there was not enough room in the city! Re-Elected without running

Gaius Gracchus – Champion of the People More reforms: Improved roads to make transportation of grain even cheaper Provided equipment and clothes for its soldiers free of charge These were excellent reforms and made him very popular. Then he got controversial: Charged the Equestrians with forming the juries to try extortion cases – instead of the Senate Equestrians were quick to prosecute the upper class! Tried to grant full citizenship to Latin allies – but this made everybody fear losing power

What Should We Do About Gaius?

The Death Of Gaius Killed by Senate along with 3000 allies.

Irony: The very people who stood up for the common people contributed to the destruction of the Roman Republic Senate supposed to be a system of checks and balances But Gracchus bros. alienated the Senate, divided it from the people Split Rome apart, created class divisions, led to civil violence Set the stage for the fall of the Republic Violence not law began to control politics.