Transcript The Decline of the Roman Republic

The Decline of the
Roman Republic
While the Rome was gaining more
territory problems were growing within
the Republic
 A gap began to widen between the poor
and the rich resulting in a power
struggle
 The Roman Senate represented the
wealthy patrician families
 The assembly represented the commonersthe plebians

The Brothers Gracchus
Two brothers Tiberius and Gaius
Gracchus challenged the Senate and
tried to change the land distribution
system Rome
 By doing so the farming class could
gain more property
 The landholding members of the Senate
refused and as a result Tiberius and
300 of his followers were murdered

Gaius tried to continue his
brother’s work to reduce the
nobility’s power and to take away
the Senate’s control of the courts
 He suggested that Rome offer the
rights of citizenship to all its
Latin allies (people they
conquered)

Romans officials were scared
outsiders would have too much
influence over the affairs of
Rome
 3000 followers of Gaius were
murdered and Gaius killed himself

Republic Reforms
Soldiers no longer had to own land
to serve in the military farm
labourers and debted farmers could
now enlist
 The army became a full time
professional force
 The republic would supply the
soldiers with all their weapons
and clothing

Answer question 1 on page 211
 Answer question 3 on page 211
 Hand it in at the end of class
value 10
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