Rome Civil War Notes Flashcards
Tiberius: lower class (plebeians) were suffering
Tiberius Grachhus was elected as tribune of the plebeians
He promised land reform
What did Tiberius Grachhus notice of the plebeians
He noticed that the lower class was suffering
Tiberius: plebeians: he promised land reform
Wanted to limit amount of land each person could own
Wanted to rebuild the farming class by redistributing land
Tiberius Grachhus and hundreds of his followers were murdered
Gaius Grachhus and reform
Gaius was elected tribune in 122 bc, about 10 years after his brother was murdered
Wanted land reform
Wanted the govt to sell to poor at reduced prices
Wanted a public works company to employ the poor
Wanted to decrease the senates power
Riots erupted. In 121 bc he was killed along with thousands of supporters
What were the two differing parties that continued to argue
Optimates
Populares
Who were the optimates
Senatorial party
Wanted to maintain the position and power of the wealthy patrician class, aka the status quo
Populares
Peoples party
Had its strength in the Assembly
Wanted reforms
Why did military dictators come to power?
Constant fighting time between rich and poor
Restlessness in the provinces
Big slave rebellions (Spartacus)
Barbarian invasions (though not as serious as they became in the era of the empire)
The people needed strong leadership
Facts about gaius Marius
A leader of the populares Successful military victories Elected consul 7 times Wanted army reform struggled with Lucius Sulla for power
Gaius Marius wanted army reform
Formed a paid, volunteer, official army staffed by Romes landless people(no more property qualifications)
Soldiers shared in the spoils of war and earned pension upon completion of their service
Lucius Sulla who was he?
Patrician member of senate Optimates Military victories Marius and his supporters come to power in Rome while Sulla was away Sulla ruled as dictator for 3 years
When Marius and his supporters came to power in Rome while Sulla was away
Killed many optimates in the senate
Sulla came back to Rome in 82 bc
Sulla killed thousands of Marius’ followers and condiscated their property as booty for his troops
Sulla ruled as dictator for 3 years
Gave senate back control of the concern meant the retired from public life
Gneieus pompeius Magnus
A general under Sulla
Military victories
Marcus Crassus
General who defeated Spartacus
Became wealthy by devious means
Gaius Julius Caesar
Military victories
Caesars military victories
59-51 bc: brought Gaul(roughly modern day France) under Romes rule