1. The Gracchus Tragedy
CHW 3M

2. 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????

3. The Gracchus Bros.
Two brothers – Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus – dared to challenge the Roman system and stood up for the common people.

4. 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
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
See speech on p. 226
Brought back old land policies
Put limits on landholding – all extra land to be divided among people

5. 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

6. 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
Had broader vision than Tiberius:
Continued new land law
Created new colonies to supply cheap grain for the poor

7. 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

8. “Reformers in too much of a hurry”
Gracchus lost next election
Soon murdered, with 3000 followers, by another Senate-created riot
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