the gracchi tiberius gracchus (163-133 bc) and gaius gracchus (153-121 bc)
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THE GRACCHITIBERIUS GRACCHUS
(163-133 BC)
and
GAIUS GRACCHUS (153-121 BC)
Conditions in the Late RepublicMilitary problems: Fewer men eligible for army, military levy based on land ownership. Decline in birth rate impacted army numbers. Lower quality of troops = undisciplined. Poor training and lack of quality leadership.Social problems: Urbanisation – ex-soldiers, slaves and foreigners, flocked to Rome. Drift of peasant farmers and labourers to Rome = unemployment. Pop. increase, overcrowding, poor housing = unemployment. Slave uprisings from poor treatment.Economic problems: Great influx of wealth from provinces, included booty. Most wealth went into hands of upper class. Peasants returning from wars unable to compete with wealthier farmers –
forced off their land. Boom period in building and increased private spending in the 140s,
reduction in public spending. Economic depression, misery, unrest. Shortage of grain and grain imported = high price of bread.
Tiberius Gracchus – Tribune In 133, Tiberius Gracchus was elected as one
of ten tribunes Within 10 months of being elected he had
presented a highly controversial bill for land reform to the people’s assembly without consulting the senate. It was called lex agraria
The aim of Lex Agraria: Redistribute land equally Address acute urbanisation Easing the crisis of recruitment in the legions
Tiberius Gracchus and Land Reform
Tiberius Gracchus told the people: “You fight and die to give luxury to other men…but you have not a foot of ground to call
your own.”
Wanted to limit the amount of
land each person could own
Wanted to rebuild the farming class by redistributing
land
The patricians were not pleased
with Tiberius Gracchus
Tiberius Gracchus and hundreds of
his followers were murdered
The lower classes (plebeians) were suffering.
133 BCE – Tiberius Gracchus was elected as tribune of the plebeians He promised land reform
Tiberius Gracchus – decade after132 BCE – Supporters and Gracchans killed or stripped of titles and public office. However, Gaius Gracchus (brother) headed the Agrarian Commission.
131-130 BCE – Attempt to introduce a measure to extend the secret ballot to assemblies to legalise re-election to the tribunate – supported by Gaius Gracchus, however failed to pass.
129 BCE – Boundary disputes between Rome and her Italian and Latin allies
127 BCE – Gaius Gracchus elected quaestor
126 BCE – Law passed to prevent non-citizens from living in Rome
125 BCE – Proposition by consul Fulvius Flaccus to extend Roman citizenship to allies. Opposition was widespread in Senate, failed to pass.
123 BCE – Gaius Gracchus elected tribune of the plebs
Gaius Gracchus – Tribune
Effects of the Gaius tribunate
Equites – third political force
People realised they could gain some
benefits of empire
Encouraged future leaders to establish
colonies to gain political power
Problem of Italian citizenship became
acute
Senate used decree to save state – excuse to crush
opposition
Worsened the conditions for people
in the provinces
Senate power weakened
The tribune could be used as a weapon against the senate
Gaius Gracchus and ReformGaius was elected tribune in 123 BCE,
about ten years after his brother was murdered.
He also wanted land reform.
Gaius wanted even more than land
reform.
Gaius wanted the government to sell grain to the poor at
reduced prices.
Gaius proposed that landless Romans be
settled in the provinces.
Gaius wanted a public works
program to employ the poor.
Gaius wanted to reform the way that taxes were collected by publicans in the
provinces.
Gaius wanted to decrease the
Senate’s power.
Riots erupted. In 121 BCE, he was killed along with thousands of his
supporters.