WORLD HISTORY notes
Day 5
Gracchus Brothers
Marius and Sulla
Social War
ROMAN REVOLUTION (133 BC – 27 BC)
Roman Republic engaged in a constant succession of civil wars
GRACCHUS BROTHERS
 Tiberius and Gaius
 wanted to help poor classes, especially the Proletariat class
Tiberius Gracchus
 133 B.C.
elected Tribune
 immediate problem of the shortage of military recruits (had to own land to be in
Land Reform Bill = “Lex Agraria”
wanted to especially give land to Veterans
 133 B.C.
Tiberius wanted to pass a

 when Senate would not pass the bill, Tiberius took to “Plebeian Assembly” for approval
o this was not Illegal
 Senate feared that if it could be “circumvented” it would lose power
o Senators assassinated Tiberius (beaten with bench legs) and 300 followers
Gaius Gracchus
 elected Tribune (twice) 123 B.C
 Supported the land reform his brother had started
 Gaius replaced Senators with members of the Equites
o Support ideas of Gaius
o Weaken existing Senators
 Senate conspiring to kill Gaius
o Gaius committed suicide and 3000K supporters were killed
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GRACCHUS BROTHERS
1) the beginning of violence in Roman politics
2) circumvention of Senate – Gracchus undermined “Mos Maiorum” (“the Way of the Elders”)
3)increased conflict between “Populares” and Optimates (resisted change / wealthy / Senate)