Transcript Roman History V

Roman History V:
Decline of the Republic
Culture Lesson for 3rd Year Latin
Rome in 133 B.C.
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Coming off of two major victories in
146 B.C., the fall of both Carthage and
Greece
Making inroads in Asia Minor and
Hispania
Gallia Cisalpina (northern Italy)
pacified and Romanized
Vast amounts of wealth pouring in
from trade, conquest, taxation
But not all is well…
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New wealth exacerbates differences
between upper and lower classes
New middle class, the equites
(knights), develops based on
mercantilism
New borders mean new enemies,
more land to control
Things cannot stay well forever…
Causes of Republic’s Decline
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Rise of Latifundia
Increase in Slave Population
Decrease in Importance of Family
Farm
Decrease in Military Strength
Increase of Leisure and Leisure
Activities
Cause 1: Rise of Latifundia
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Latifundia- immense farms, similar in
style to plantations
Take land from surrounding farms and
incorporate them into personal
holdings
Technically illegal, because they
exceeded the amount of land able to
be owned
Cause 2: Increase of Slave
Population
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Slave population grows from prisoners
of war and many new debtors
Many used to work large farms
cheaply and efficiently; many small
farmers cannot compete and go
bankrupt
Also take up jobs in the city for private
masters and civil government, denying
jobs to citizens
Cause 3: Decrease in Family
Farms
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Many small farms declined and fell
apart while male owners were away
on military campaigns around empire
Many of these bought up and made
part of latifundiae, worked by large
teams of slaves rather than Romans
Farmers and families pour into Rome to
look for work, housing, support. Find
little, at least of quality
Cause 4: Decreased Military
Strength
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Military membership dependent on land
ownership. Fewer land owners=fewer
soldiers
Overseas acquisitions require long-term
military presence, but Roman army
traditionally consists of citizens on temporary
call-up
Poor provincial management causes
constant flare ups, depleting military
resources
Cause 5: More Leisure and
Leisurely Activity
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Freed from strenuous work of farming
and soldiering, many Romans enjoy
new leisure time (otium)
Benefits: increase in arts and literature,
exploration of philosophy and
education
Detriments: Clashes with traditional
values of work (negotium), service to
state and gods (pietas)
Rise of the Gracchi
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133 B.C.- Tiberius Gracchus elected
tribunus plebis. Begins to explore
policy of land reform
Proposes to redistribute excess public
land under private control. Takes the
legislation to the plebeian assembly for
passage, brings it back again despite
another tribune’s veto, then has that
tribune removed from office
Rise of the Gracchi
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Attempts to run for a 2nd
unprecedented term for 132. Publicly
killed, along with supporters, by the
pontifex maximus before he can run.
123 B.C.- brother Gaius Gracchus runs
and wins the office of tribunus plebis.
Wins a second unprecedented term in
122 B.C.
Reforms of G. Gracchus
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Establishment of subsidized grain dole
Resumption of land distribution and
establishment of colonies, including
one at Carthage
Contracting out tax farming for Asia
Minor (later throughout continental
Asia)
Establishing the equites on juries
Gaius Vixit!
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Attempted to give all Italian allies the status
of Latins, and all Latins the status of citizens
When law was opposed, resorted to armed
insurrection
Senate passed first senatus consultum
ultimum, vaguely allowing consuls to do all
that is necessary to quell the violence.
Gaius and his followers were killed, either in
street fighting or via executions
New “precedents”
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Persons holding office for longer than a
year, often times as a way of avoiding
criminal prosecution or as a means to
maintain personal power and authority
Use of violence as a political tool
Appealing to the legal authority of the
plebeian assembly first rather than to the
traditional authority of the Senate
Land ownership and distribution as a point
of contention