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

2. Roman Power Grows

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

4. 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????

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

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

7. 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 BC) GAIUS GRACCHUS (c BC)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Tiberius Proposes Lex Agraria

12. The Senate Responds

13. Gaius Gracchus Makes The Scene

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. What Should We Do About Gaius?

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

19. 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.