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Appian vs. Plutarch

Appian vs. Plutarch. Tiberius Gracchus And Gaius Gracchus. Sources. Appian (95 ACE ~ 165 ACE) - Roman History – 24 books - “Civil Wars” Plutarch (46 ACE ~ 120 ACE) - Parallel Lives Agis and Cleomenes III vs. Tiberius and Gaius Grachhus.

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Appian vs. Plutarch

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  1. Appian vs. Plutarch Tiberius Gracchus And Gaius Gracchus

  2. Sources • Appian (95 ACE ~ 165 ACE) - Roman History – 24 books - “Civil Wars” • Plutarch (46 ACE ~ 120 ACE) - Parallel Lives Agis and Cleomenes III vs. Tiberius and Gaius Grachhus

  3. Significance of Gracchi Brothers • Role in leading up to the Civil war • OptimatesvsPopulares • Optimates – Aristocrats • Populares – Non-aristocrats • Gracchi brothers -origins of using the popularity as a tool for political power.

  4. What is Reliable? • Appian’s and Plutarch’s writings differ in terms of • Content • Style • Motive • And thus, reliability • Sources’ coinciding info. = Reliable!!!

  5. Background • Father – Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus the Elder • Between 180 BCE ~ 160 BCE • Tribune, Censor, and Consul • Mother – Cornelia • Daughter of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (defeated Hannibal in Punic War)

  6. Tiberius Gracchus • 133 BCE – elected as Tribune of the Plebs • Proposal of “lexSemproniaAgraria” • Limit the amount of land nobles could own. • Every plebian family should own a piece of land • Marcus Octavius (favored by the senate) exercised veto. • Nonetheless, this event earned Tiberius huge popularity among the poor plebs.

  7. Tiberius Gracchus (2) • Follow year (132 BCE), Tiberius ran for tribune of the plebs once more. • His campaign consisted of him promising to • Shorten the military service • Abolish the exclusive right of senators to act as jurors • Admit allies to obtain Roman citizenship • Nobles were not happy: • Senates will lose their power and influence in Roman politics • Allies turned into Roman citizenship = less tax collected • Tiberius killed in a street fight, and thrown in the Tiber River. • Senates, in fear of revolt, passed the law previously proposed by Tiberius and grants redistribution of land.

  8. Gaius Gracchus • 123 ~122 BCE – elected as Tribune of the plebs • Passed a law that admitted “equites” to the juries • Unsuccessfully tried to • Shorten military service • Grant Roman citizenship to the allies in Italy • The nobles opposed Gaius • Gaius Gracchus declared “enemy of Rome” • Fled to Aventine hill, and asked one of his slaves to kill him.

  9. Impact made by the Gracchi Showed that popularity among the poor = Powerful weapon against the Roman Aristocrats! ------------------------------------------------- Thus, significant role in leading to Civil War

  10. Difference between the Sources • Plutarch – Parallel lives • Focuses heavily on the characters • Neglects describing any background description of the Roman Empire. • Heavy comparison of the two brothers in terms of virtue • Writing with more characteristics as a story for entertainment purpose

  11. Further Reasons… • Focuses heavily on emotions: • “softened”, “moved”, “eyes filled with tears”,“displeasure” etc. • Tiberius = Man of Virtue • Gaius = ambitious • Never describes anything bad about the senates • Uses Omens leading up to tragic events

  12. Appian’s Roman History • Title itself seems reliable • Description of • Roman Empire as a whole • Nobles’ abuse of Roman law on land ownership • Effect of Gracchi’s actions on the Empire as a whole • Minimal character descriptions • Appian took a neutral standing • No definite antagonist or protagonist • Actions taken by both senates and Gracchi brothers described as “strategies” and not an action of “virtue” or “ambition”.

  13. Conclusion…

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