THE GRACCHI

1. THE GRACCHI TIBERIUS GRACCHUS (163-133 BC) and GAIUS GRACCHUS (153-121 BC)

2. Conditions in the Late Republic • Military 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.

3. 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 lexagraria • The aim of LexAgraria: • Redistribute land equally • Address acute urbanisation • Easing the crisis of recruitment in the legions

4. Tiberius Gracchus and Land Reform

5. Tiberius Gracchus – decade after 132 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 FulviusFlaccus to extend Roman citizenship to allies. Opposition was widespread in Senate, failed to pass. 123 BCE – Gaius Gracchus elected tribune of the plebs

6. Gaius Gracchus – Tribune

7. Gaius Gracchus and Reform