Expansion and ReformExpansion and Reform

Rome in the late 3rd and 2nd centuries

Rome in the late 3rd and 2nd centuries

The First Macedonian War (215-205)

The First Macedonian War (215-205)

Grew out of the second Punic War Philip V allied with Hannibal Rome formed a coalition of cities

Aetolian League: western Greece Pergamum League: western Asia Minor, long time enemy

of Macedon King Attalus I

Romans did not pursue the war vigourously Made peace - each keeping what they had

Grew out of the second Punic War Philip V allied with Hannibal Rome formed a coalition of cities

Aetolian League: western Greece Pergamum League: western Asia Minor, long time enemy

of Macedon King Attalus I

Romans did not pursue the war vigourously Made peace - each keeping what they had

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The Second Macedonian War (200-196)

The Second Macedonian War (200-196)

Attalus and some Greek cities urged Rome to intervene

A number of Greek cities given “freedom” No foreign garrisons, no tribute, no change to

laws But, freed cities had to acknowledge the

leadership and power of Rome

Attalus and some Greek cities urged Rome to intervene

A number of Greek cities given “freedom” No foreign garrisons, no tribute, no change to

laws But, freed cities had to acknowledge the

leadership and power of Rome

The Syrian War (192-189)The Syrian War (192-189)

Antiochus III, king of Syria, extended power into Asia Minor and sent a small force into Greece

Rome declared war and defeated Antiochus Antiochus had to leave Asia Minor, refrain from

alliances around the Aegean, surrender ships Goal was stability in Greece and preservation of

Rome’s dominance in Greek world

Antiochus III, king of Syria, extended power into Asia Minor and sent a small force into Greece

Rome declared war and defeated Antiochus Antiochus had to leave Asia Minor, refrain from

alliances around the Aegean, surrender ships Goal was stability in Greece and preservation of

Rome’s dominance in Greek world

The Third Macedonian War (171-168)

The Third Macedonian War (171-168)

The son of Philip, Perseus, married the daughter of Antiochus’ successor

War ended the Macedonian monarchy Destroyed the wealthy commercial city of Corinth in

146 - head of the Achaean league Same year as Corinth Marked an end of an ear in Roman expansion and, some

say, beginning of moral decline Divided Macedonia into four regions

The son of Philip, Perseus, married the daughter of Antiochus’ successor

War ended the Macedonian monarchy Destroyed the wealthy commercial city of Corinth in

146 - head of the Achaean league Same year as Corinth Marked an end of an ear in Roman expansion and, some

say, beginning of moral decline Divided Macedonia into four regions

Relationship with the Conquered

Relationship with the Conquered

Plundered cities, gained much wealth Killed many when sacking a city Shared loot with everyone in the army equally Influx of wealth greatly changed the look of cities

Building programs and elaborate houses

Massive land confiscation Massive enslavement of conquered peoples

Plundered cities, gained much wealth Killed many when sacking a city Shared loot with everyone in the army equally Influx of wealth greatly changed the look of cities

Building programs and elaborate houses

Massive land confiscation Massive enslavement of conquered peoples

Relationship with AlliesRelationship with Allies Latium, Campania, southern Etruria, Sabinum had some

level of Roman citizenship Etruria, Umbria, Samnium, and Greek cities in the south

remained allies, but no citizenship Rome conficated massive amounts of land in Souther

Italy Sentate sent out magistrates to search for signs of

disloyalty and punish those suspected of it Hardening of the distinction between Romans and non-

Romans Shifted more burdens and less benefits of waging war to

the allies

Latium, Campania, southern Etruria, Sabinum had some level of Roman citizenship

Etruria, Umbria, Samnium, and Greek cities in the south remained allies, but no citizenship

Rome conficated massive amounts of land in Souther Italy

Sentate sent out magistrates to search for signs of disloyalty and punish those suspected of it

Hardening of the distinction between Romans and non-Romans

Shifted more burdens and less benefits of waging war to the allies

Politics in the mid-2nd CenturyPolitics in the mid-2nd Century Rome ruled by a few families and favored the

wealthy classes Often, success depended on support of other elites

and the senate Some politicians began to base their position in the

city more on their ability to gain popularity and mobilize crowds than on their standing with peers

Led to unconventional elections to power and reforms for the lower classes

Beginning of the decline of the power of the Senate

Rome ruled by a few families and favored the wealthy classes

Often, success depended on support of other elites and the senate

Some politicians began to base their position in the city more on their ability to gain popularity and mobilize crowds than on their standing with peers

Led to unconventional elections to power and reforms for the lower classes

Beginning of the decline of the power of the Senate

Scipio Aemilianus Scipio Aemilianus

Adopted by Public Cornelius Scipio, son of Africanus

Served as consul in 147 BC Not old enough, had not served as Praetor Able to win it because of the failure of the generals to

quickly win the 3rd Punic War Not supported by the senate, tried to block him Widespread support in the assembly

Assigned the war in Carthage and successfully destroyed the city

Adopted by Public Cornelius Scipio, son of Africanus

Served as consul in 147 BC Not old enough, had not served as Praetor Able to win it because of the failure of the generals to

quickly win the 3rd Punic War Not supported by the senate, tried to block him Widespread support in the assembly

Assigned the war in Carthage and successfully destroyed the city

Scipio AemilianusScipio Aemilianus

Ran for censor in 142 Rival was supported by the senate Scipio had support from the populace ambitiones - part of campaign in which

candidate walked through the Forum greeting citizens and asking for support

Usually surrounded by prominent men Scipio walked with men of low birth and freedmen

Won the office

Ran for censor in 142 Rival was supported by the senate Scipio had support from the populace ambitiones - part of campaign in which

candidate walked through the Forum greeting citizens and asking for support

Usually surrounded by prominent men Scipio walked with men of low birth and freedmen

Won the office

Tiberius Gracchus Tiberius Gracchus From a wealthy and powerful family Married to the daughter of Scipio Africanus Served as Tribune beginning in 133 BC Land Reform Law: regulated the use of public

lands (ager publicus populi Romani) Land obtained in wars Limited individual to occupy 300 acres Confiscated the rest and distributed to landless

Romans Enabled more people to be eligible for the army

From a wealthy and powerful family Married to the daughter of Scipio Africanus Served as Tribune beginning in 133 BC Land Reform Law: regulated the use of public

lands (ager publicus populi Romani) Land obtained in wars Limited individual to occupy 300 acres Confiscated the rest and distributed to landless

Romans Enabled more people to be eligible for the army

Tiberius GracchusTiberius Gracchus

Law met much opposition in the senate Sought reelection

Feared that his enemies would try to prosecute him when he left office

The pontifex maximus and some senators attacked Tiberius and his supporters, killing hundreds, including Tiberius

Law met much opposition in the senate Sought reelection

Feared that his enemies would try to prosecute him when he left office

The pontifex maximus and some senators attacked Tiberius and his supporters, killing hundreds, including Tiberius

Gaius GracchusGaius Gracchus Became tribune in 123 BC, and won reelection the

following year Electrifying speaker Wished to curb some of the excess power of the senate Made it that capital punishment must be authorized by

citizens assembly, not the senate as before Required Rome to buy and store grain, offering it at a

fixed price to Romans Authorized the foundation of many colonies Tried to pass a law that made all people with Latin

citizenship Roman citizens, and all with Italian citizenship Latin citizens - not passed

Became tribune in 123 BC, and won reelection the following year

Electrifying speaker Wished to curb some of the excess power of the senate Made it that capital punishment must be authorized by

citizens assembly, not the senate as before Required Rome to buy and store grain, offering it at a

fixed price to Romans Authorized the foundation of many colonies Tried to pass a law that made all people with Latin

citizenship Roman citizens, and all with Italian citizenship Latin citizens - not passed

Gaius GracchusGaius Gracchus

Tried to run again for tribune, unsuccessful Consul, Opimius, tried to repeal a number of his

laws Gaius and a number of followers attended a

meeting and confrontation followed Herald of Opimius was killed Opimius ordered an attack and thousands were killed Gaius committed suicide

Tried to run again for tribune, unsuccessful Consul, Opimius, tried to repeal a number of his

laws Gaius and a number of followers attended a

meeting and confrontation followed Herald of Opimius was killed Opimius ordered an attack and thousands were killed Gaius committed suicide

Optimates vs. PopularesOptimates vs. Populares

Optimates: “the best” people in Rome; sought election and power through traditional means of gaining support of fellow senators

Populares: advanced their careers and agendas by seeking the popular support of the citizen body

Optimates: “the best” people in Rome; sought election and power through traditional means of gaining support of fellow senators

Populares: advanced their careers and agendas by seeking the popular support of the citizen body