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Rise and Fall of the Gracchi Brothers: Turmoil in Later Roman Republic

Explore the political unrest, corruption, and social issues of the Later Roman Republic, with a focus on the Gracchi Brothers who challenged the status quo and faced tragic fates. Discover how their actions shaped Rome's shift to a slave-based economy and the decline of small farmers.

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Rise and Fall of the Gracchi Brothers: Turmoil in Later Roman Republic

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  1. Later Roman Republic

  2. Shift to slave-based economy • Decline of small farmers • Slaves run huge plantations • Landless Romans can’t join military • Corruption everywhere • Italian allies have same problems but can’t vote • Huge numbers of idle, unemployed people flock to Rome

  3. Divide in politics • optimates = rich, connected, old families, don’t want change • populares = manipulate common people to gain power, promise to help them • Some people really care about the cause, most just want power

  4. Gracchi Brothers • Patrician family but populares politicians • Tiberius  Tribune 133 BC • LexSemproniaAgraria : limit amount of land each person could have; redistribute to poor • Didn’t ask Senate – went right to conciliumplebis • Other tribune vetoed, Tiberius shut down city

  5. 129 BC Attalus III of Pergamum gives all land to Rome (new province: Asia Minor)- Tiberius want to use $ to fund law

  6. Death of Tiberius • Ran for reelection illegally • Beaten to death by senators • Thrown in the Tiber

  7. Gaius Gracchus • Tribune 123, 122 BC • LexAcilia– iudices to be chosen from equestrians (equites) not senators • Gave equestrians tax-collecting contracts in Asia Minor • Subsidized grain • Anti-corruption measures • Public works benefit equestrian businessmen • Wanted to give citizenship to Italians

  8. Death of Gaius • Led a protest in streets • Turned into armed mob • Consul Opimius gets SEC (SenatusConsultumUltimum) against Gaius and attacks him w/ militia • Orders his own slave to kill him • 3000 supporters killed

  9. Gaius Marius • 157-86 BC • Reorganized army to include landless citizens • One of the populares • Consul 7 times

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