Gracchi Civil Wars

Question 1

Effects on society from vast overseas conquest

Answer 1

• influx of wealth, slaves
• influence of Greek culture
• long campaigns abroad
• but benefits of conquest not reaching beyond the wealthy
• growth of large estates

Question 2

The Gracchi

Answer 2

• Tiberius Gracchus as tribune of the plebs, 133 BCE
• plan to redistribute public land to poorer citizens
• but takes it through the plebeian assembly (not senate)
• and takes charge of pergamene bequest
• unsuccessful
• 123 - 21 BCE Gaius Gracchus as tribune
• also unsuccessful with agrarian laws and other reforms
• senatus consultus ultimum passed for consul (Gracchus mudered)

Question 3

Late republic

Answer 3

• polarized politics
• optimates - believe the senate and traditional ruling class should govern
• populares - draw power from the assemblies and from soldiers / veterans
• rivalry for the best military commands
• difficult to do long- range planning in a system of yearly elections

Question 4

Late republic (1st c. B.C.): Rivalry and civil wars

Answer 4

Extraordinary military commands created (plebeian assembly)
- source
- length
- geography
Caused by emergencies
- coveted by others
- Marius, Pompey, Caesar
Social war (war with the socii) 91 - 88 BCE
Socii defeated, but granted citizenship

Question 5

Marius, consul 107, 104 - 100, 86

Answer 5

New man (novus homo)
- first in his family to reach the consulship
- many consulships to handle emergencies in Numidia, Gaul (7 consulships total)
- politics polarized between senate and people
- army reforms
- rivalry with Sulla

Question 6

Army reforms: Marius’ mules

Answer 6

• enlists landless people
• soldiers receive pay
• training
• state supplies equipment
• “Marius’ mules”
• move towards a professional army

Question 7

L. Cornelius Sulla, active in 90s - 80s BC

Answer 7

• competition with Marius for commands
• civil war between Marius and Sulla
• captures Rome (88 BC)
• proscription

Question 8

Sulla, dictator 82 BCE

Answer 8

• fixes age and sequence for offices (cursus honorum)
• wants senate to be supreme
• removes most powers of tribunes

Question 9

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, active 70s - 50s BC

Answer 9

• social wars
• victories in Africa, Spain
• suppressed Spartacus with Crassus (71)
• Spartacus’ revolt is 73 - 71 BCE
• triumphs in 81, 71, 61 BCE
• consul in 70 BCE
• plebeian assembly gives him commands against pirates, mithridates