Civ IA- PowerPoint from Lecture 12
Lecture 12- Rome: Crises and Reform
I)
Roman Crises
II)
Reformers
III)
The First Triumvirate
IDs:
Civic religion
optimates
slave revolts
Social Wars
populares
Caius Gracchus
client army
Tiberius Gracchus
Marius
Sulla
March on Rome
Pompey
Crassus
Julius Caesar
Gallic Commentaries
The Rubicon
Images of Empire
American context
Empire vs. Republic
Roman republican influence among the Founding Fathers
Roman Expansion and Internal Pressures
Farmer/Soldier
Family
Religion
Roman Religion
Roman Expansion and Internal Pressures
Farmer/Soldier
Family
Religion
Government
- optimates
- provincial governors
4 Signs of Strain
Slaves
Problems with Slavery
Increase in number
- c. 2 million by 100 BC
Neglect in latifundia
Revolts
- 135 BC, 104 BC
- 74 BC- Spartacus
4 Signs of Strain
Slaves
Provinces
Attacks on garrisons
Allies (socii)
“Social War” (91-89 BC)
Urban slums:
Optimates and populares (reformers)
II) Reformers
The Gracci:
Tiberius and Caius Gracchus
Tiberius Gracchus (163-133 BC)
Patrician background
Populare
Tribune in Plebian Assembly
Tiberius Gracchus on land reform:
“The wild beasts that roam over Italy have their dens. . . . But the men who fight and die for Italy
enjoy nothing but the air and light; without house or home they wanter about with their wives and
children. . . . They fight and die to protect the wealth and luxury of others; they are styled masters of the
world, and have not a clod of earth they call their own.”
Tiberius Gracchus
Proposed a land commission
Challenged the Senate
Plebian assembly
Expelled the dissenting tribune Octavius
Death of T. Gracchus (133 BC)
Further reforms
Ran for re-election as tribune
Senators killed him and some supporters
Senate concessions
Violent precedent
Caius Gracchus (153-121 BC)
Became tribune in 123 BC
Even more ambitious
Granaries, investigations
Extension of citizenship
Assassinated- lesson for reformers
The Generals: Marius (c. 157-86 BC)
Humble origins
Military success
Consul (107-100 BC)
Client Armies
Sulla
(c.138-78 BC)
Social Wars- 91 BC
Another “new man”
Elected consul
Expedition to Asia Minor (88 BC)
Conflict vs. Marius
- Attack on Rome:
-division: officers vs. soldiers
Return and dictatorship (82-79 BC)- proscription
III) First Triumvirate
1st Triumvirate (60 BC)
The Army and the Senate
The First Triumvirate:
Pompey
Crassus
Julius Caesar
Gnaeus Pompey (106-48 BC)
Crassus
Wealthy optimate
Julius Caesar’s father-in-law
Julius Caesar
Became consul (59 BC)
Sent to Gaul with a client army
Military victories
Gallic Commentaries
“Crossing the Rubicon”
Crassus dies- 53 BC
Pompey turns the Senate against Caesar
Senate recalls Caesar from Gaul
Return to Rome
Caesar’s Rise
Julius Caesar and Reform
Extended clemency
Enlarged the Senate
Populares:
Free grain to 320K citizens
Overseas colonies
Land for army veterans
The Roman “Republic” under Caesar
Caesar’s Dictatorship
The Ides of March