Turning points of the Roman Republic

Roman History

Turning Points of the Roman Republic

How and why did the Roman Republic "fall"? Describe five historical events from the last century of the Republic (133-31 BCE) and explain why they should be considered "turning points" in the transition.

Various historical events contributed to the transformation of the Republic into the nascent Roman Empire. To name five:

Economic forces triggered the so-called Gracchan revolution (133-121 BCE), which both set a precedent for the use of violence to resolve political disputes and failed to resolve the problem of a new class of urban poor, leaving the mob in control of the assemblies.

The aftermath of the Social War (91-88 BCE) extended citizenship to the Italian allies at last but attempts to apply the intricate Roman city-state-based political system across Italy soon failed. As the ancient social order continued to erode, the increasingly independent military a vastly enlarged population from which to draw recruits.

Marius' feud with Sulla and the ensuing civil war (88-82 BCE) suspended the rule of law altogether as general fought general, ending with troops occupying Rome and Sulla as dictator. While Senatorial power was eventually restored, the affair revived the dictatorial office for the first time in over a century and thus paved the way for consolidation of power in those who could take it.

The emergence of the triumvirate system (60-53 BCE) further consolidated power in the persons of the triumviri, rendering the old system of magistracies increasingly irrelevant in the face of military success and the ability to manipulate the resurgent tribunes and the mob itself.

Finally, Caesar's civil war (49-45 BCE) reshaped the Empire, checked the power of the Senate, and ended with Caesar as dictator for the short remainder of his life. The Republic was dead.

2. What were the military, social, and economic events that led to the Gracchan land reforms (discuss one event each of military, social, and economic)? How did the Gracchi attempt to resolve these problems (discuss three)? How effective were they?

When Tiberius Gracchus was elected tribune, the social structures that had nourished the Republic as it developed from an independent city-state were already breaking down. The consolidation of public land under the emerging latifundia system had turned roughly 7% of the population (Last, 1932a, p. 9) into indigents as displaced peasant farmers flooded Rome and other cities, only to find demand for their labor limited at best. Meanwhile, the army was starving for recruits as the traditional citizen military class proved too small to police the vast Roman frontier and quell slave revolts closer to home. Finally, relations with the Italian and even the Latin allies had become increasingly strained.