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Roberts & Knox |
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J. M. Roberts 1992 History of the World : “There was a widening gap between the rich and the poor as peasant farming gave way to large estates bought (stocked with slaves) with the spoils of war.” The Gracchi brothers wanted to do something about this through land reform as well as reducing senatorial power and giving equites a bigger role in government. They wanted to distribute the empires wealth. They both died through their efforts. This itself marked a raising in the stakes of politics in the last century of the republic factional because politicians knew that they risked their lives. |
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Dr.
Ellis L. Knox 1996 History
of Western Civilization :
“Tiberius was an experienced commander who saw real need for serious
reform.” He was not a revolutionary but went to extremes to achieve
what he wanted and his opponents mirrored these extremes in their
efforts to stop him.
Once a soldier had served in his twenty campaigns and paid for
his equipment by the time he returned his farm was in debt. Wealthy
Romans who created larger and larger estates bought it up. Meanwhile the
soldier would join the growing unemployed in the cities. All of this was
ignored until in 146 both the Fourth Macedonian and the Third Punic wars
ended together and large numbers of men flocked back to Rome with
nowhere to go.
Tiberius’ solution was to give land to the veterans who would
raise a new generation of Romans. Thus with one reform he would address
the quality of the army and the neglect of army veterans. But the land
was in the hands of the rich aristocracy, essentially the senate, who
had to pass the bills. There were no funds for compensation. Then King
Attalus III died leaving his wealth and empire to Rome. The land reform
could now be implemented with no burden to burden on Roman finances. The
senate opposed his bill, so Tiberius ran for tribune though this was not
common and brought him unpopularity. The senate persuaded the other
tribune to veto the bill, though before he could do so Tiberius’ men
grabbed him and dragged him away. The bill was passed. It was the first
dramatic and public display of political violence. The senate was
furious. The bill however was only the first step for Tiberius, he
decided to stand for a second term. The senators now claimed that
Tiberius wanted to be a demagogue. Tiberius and 300 of his followers
were killed by the senate, who praised themselves and went about their
business. |
