1. “The Roman Revolution” The end of the Republic 146 BC – 27 BC

5. Rome was an empire built upon sacked towns, shattered armies, slaughtered villagers and townsmen, raped women, enslaved prisoners, plundered lands, burned crops and mercilessly overtaxed populations. Michael Parenti, The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 2003

6. Social Structure in Ancient Rome

7. The domestic struggle between rich and poor intensified… By the 3rd century BCE, Rome’s population separated into two distinct political parties: the Populares Party (reform-minded with democratic tendencies) versus the Optimates Party (conservatives who viewed any change to the existing status quo as an attack on their wealth and power.) The power of the Populares resided in the Popular Assembly The power of the Optimates operated through the Senate.

8. Consequences of expansion… The Hellenization of Rome Most benefits of expansion went to the wealthy, patrician class Citizen-soldiers returned home to find their lands ravaged and unproductive and in debt- Increase in slave population displaced small, independent farmer… Ruined farmers, on the brink of bankruptcy joined the ranks of unemployed in Rome By 150 BCE, a revolution was brewing: The Gracchus Revolution

9. TIBERIUS GRACCHUS (c.168 -133 BCE ) & GAIUS GRACCHUS (c.159 -121 BCE )

10. Tiberius Gracchus, Tribune in133 BCE Enforce an old law limiting latifundia-estates to 312 acres... Sell/rent these public lands to the poor Distribute lands of deceased king of Pergamum to the poor/ soldiers

11. Reaction to the plans of Tiberius: The Senate said no, but was overridden by the Assembly Senate feared its loss of power His mistake- sought 2nd term as tribune... landowners provoked a riot claiming Tiberius intended to make himself king! Tiberius was clubbed to death **-1 st time ever that a tribune was attacked and killed.

12. Gaius Gracchus, tribune in 123 BCE Resurrected brother’s land reform plans Give colonial lands to retired soldiers Establish price controls- cheap grain subsidized by the government Initiate public works projects Extend citizenship

13. Gaius meets fate of his brother… He and 250 followers were killed by optimate death squads who later rounded up and executed an additional 3,000 democrats. But he created 75,000 new landowners Gracchi legacy...last true reformers

14. The beginning of the end… After the Gracchus Revolution, the next 100 years was dominated by a series of rival generals, representing the two political parties, who engulfed Rome in civil wars, using their troops as personal possessions to further their own political ambitions, undermining the constitution, and leading to the collapse of the Republic.

15. Gaius Marius 157-86 BCE Early fame: defeated the Numidians in North Africa Later, defeated a Germanic force of 300,000 (The Cimbri, and Teutones) Won an unprecedented (and illegal) 6 terms as consul…

16. Marius as innovator …terrible consequences Enlisted landless poor into his army, supplied them and rewarded them with his own money- loyalty of soldiers was to him. “Marius’ mules” -army was streamlined-improved training, had to carry their own equipment-no followers/hangers-on. The army, no longer an instrument of the government, became a private possession of generals

17. Lucius Sulla, 138-78 BC He emerged during the so-called “War with the Italians” 91- 88 BC

18. Marius and Sulla: the first civil war

19. Marius – the Populares party Sulla – the Optimates party

20. Sulla the conservative (the Optimates) Increased Senate to 600 Restored Senate veto over plebeian assembly Forbid tribunes from offering legislation not approved by the Senate Denied Tribunes any other office Set minimum age to hold office at 42

21. 2 nd Civil War 49-46 BCE – Caesar (the Populares) vs Pompey (the Optimates)

22. Any questions?