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Impact Of The Legacy Of Gracchi Brothers

978 Words4 Pages

Juliane Smith
Professor Mira Green
HSTAM 302
8 July 2023
The Legacy of the Gracchi Brothers The expansion of the Roman Republic had several impacts that would lead up to the agrarian reforms of the Gracchi Brothers, Tiberius, and Gaius Gracchus, which introduced, among benefits for the general population, violence as a means of political resolution. Their deaths at the hands of the Roman Republic would expose the issues in the political system while leaving a legacy of unique social reform. Driven by mos maiorum, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus transformed the political system with agrarian reforms that ultimately led to the use of violence as a means of political revolution in the Roman Republic. To start, it is crucial to consider the legacy …show more content…

The new acquisition of land benefitted the rich in the Roman Republic, who eventually drove out the poor with larger rent prices. In response, Tiberius, as tribune, proposed a land bill that distributed land to needy citizens, as well as limiting one person from holding more than 500 acres of land. As a result, the poor people of the Roman Republic were assisted and Tiberius gained more of a following due to his populist platform. Land bills like these, also, would increase the participation of the common people in Roman politics in response to the consequences of empire. To sum up, the agrarian reforms by Tiberius Gracchus as tribune transformed the political system by appealing to the common people who felt threatened by the powerful elite, though led to some political …show more content…

For example, a bill introduced by Tiberius was without consultation with the Senate, which “was not illegal, but it violated a custom of long standing.” Furthermore, upon receiving a veto by fellow tribune Marcus Octavius, Tiberius had him removed from office with his power, which was unconstitutional. Such actions on his behalf led the Senate to fear his growing alleged tyrant power which eventually led to a revolt in which Tiberius and many of his followers were killed. Similarly, Gaius Gracchus was killed along with his supporters by his political foes as a result of his agrarian reforms that were accumulating a massive public following. These events portray one of the biggest aspects of the Gracchi legacy, which was violence as a means of political resolution. This is because as a response to Tiberius’ unconstitutional methods and Gaius’ unique reforms, the Senate sought it better to have them killed instead, as well as a few citizens, leading to the bloodshed that became the Gracchi

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