I. The Paradoxical Republic : Blood in the Labyrinth Flashcards
What motivated plebeian revolts during the early years of the Roman Republic?
The tyranny they experienced under the ancient aristocracy of Rome, the Patricians.
Which new law had been passed in 367?
A law which permitted any citizen to stand for election to the great offices of the state – previously a prerogative of the patricians alone.
Who were the “Populares” ?
Politicians who relied on the popularity amidst commoners, and sometimes even pretended to be from the slums to gain their favour.
Who were the Gracchi brothers?
The Gracchi brothers were two brothers at the start of the Roman Republic. Tiberius and Gaius . They served in the plebeian tribunates of 133 BC and 122–121 BC, respectively.
What were the Gracchi brothers known for?
They have been received as well-born and eloquent advocates for social reform who were both killed by a reactionary political system; their terms in the tribunate precipitated a series of domestic crises which are viewed as unsettling the Roman Republic and contributing to its collapse.
Which reforms did Tiberius try to set in place during his tribunate?
Tiberius Gracchus passed legislation which established a commission to survey Roman public land, reassert state claims to it, and redistribute it to poor rural farmers. These reforms were a reaction to a perceived decline in Italy’s rural population.
Which reforms did Gaius try to set in place during his tribunate?
He attempted to buttress Tiberius’ land commission and start Roman colonisation outside of Italy.
What happened to the Gracchi brothers?
Twelve
years after Tiberius was clubbed to death with a stool-leg in a violent brawl
Gaius, in 121, was also killed by agents of the aristocracy. His corpse was decapitated, and lead poured into his skull. In the wake of his murder three thousand of his followers were executed without trial.
Which effect did the violent reaction to the Gracchi brothers have on the Roman Republic and its politics?
The impact of the violent reaction to the two brothers is of substantial import: it set a dangerous precedent that violence was an acceptable tool against political enemies.
