The decline of the Roman Republic was caused by several factors in the 2nd century BCE. As Rome expanded outward, problems grew within as the gap between rich and poor increased, causing social unrest. Luxury was seen as both stylish and decadent among Roman elites. Conquered territories were administered by magistrates who sometimes grew greedy and abused their power. Reformers like the Gracchi brothers and populists tried to address the plight of the poor but were opposed by traditionalist senators, leading to further polarization and instability in the Republic.

1. Decline of the Roman
Republic
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2. Read the two quotes on
page 331…
Which do you think is
more accurate?

3. Rome in the 2nd C. BCE
Ironically, as Rome expanded outward,
inside Rome the problems grew.
Widening gap between rich and poor led
to serious social unrest and vicious power
struggles
 Senate’s chief magistracies had become
the patrimony of a few wealthy patrician
families

4. What were the Roman
attitudes toward luxury?

5. How was LUXURY seen in
2nd Century Rome?
• “Asian” or “Eastern” (i.e. Hellenistic) influences
ran against traditionally simple, rustic Roman
aesthetic
•Some wealthy senators appreciated the Hellenistic
arts, philosophy, literature - it was stylish among
the wealthy
• Others saw it as as decadent, impure and
disorderly
• Powerful senators accused one another of using
luxury to gain support unjustly
•This was also a way to discourage imports form
the east, keeping the domestic economy strong

6. Conquest, Control, and Cash!
• Conquered lands were run by Roman
magistrates and enforced by standing armies
• Some of these magistrates got greedy for
more slaves, booty, $ from yearly tributes
and taxes
• The conduct of generals and magistrates
abroad was loosely regulated
• There were slave revolts in Italy and wars in
Gaul, North Africa, Spain, and Asia Minor
• Populist factions arose in the republic who
wanted real reform for the common citizens

7. Important figures in the late
Roman Republic:
A few good men?

8. Cato the Elder QuickTime™ and a
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• Born in the provinces of the Latin
League, wealthy but not political family
• Arrived in Rome as a “new man” and rose
through the ranks of the republic
• Served as Consul in 195 BCE
• Eventually became Censor in 184 BCE
• Fought in the 2nd Punic War as well as the
Siege of Tarrentum - enemy of the Greeks
and Carthaginians
• Wrote many books, some of which are lost
• Ancestor of Cato the Younger and Nero

9. Cato the Elder
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• Man of integrity - highly principled, which sometimes
made him unpopular among the other senators
• Lived simply, preached austerity and asceticism
• As censor, he passed stringent regulations against
luxury were very stringent. He imposed a heavy tax
upon dress and personal adornment, especially of
women, and upon young slaves purchased as
‘favourites’
• Protector of public works: fixed aqueducts, cleaned
up the sewers and prevented people from drawing
water from public fountains
• Discouraged tax farming

10. Cato vs. Carthage
• Cato was a strong advocate for the 3rd
Punic War
• His motto was “Carthago Delenda Est” -
Carthage must be destroyed!
• Rome needed a feared enemy so they
don’t get too comfortable and indulge in
luxuries and frivolity

11. Polybius QuickTime™ and a
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• Greek, from a prominent family in the
Achaean league
• Deported to Rome in 167 BCE as a
hostage suspected of anti-roman
hostility
• When in Rome, befriended Scipios and
other important Romans

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Polybius
• Pan-Mediterranean perspective
gained through extensive travel
• Pragmatic history
– Focus on how events effected
people and cities
– Based on first-hand experience,
interviews, and study of primary
documents
– Still, he included divine destiny in
his histories

13. Polybius
• Admirer of Xenophon’s histories
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• Thought that there was a constitutional
cycle that would play itself out in Rome
– Monarchy - Oligarchy - Democracy -
Mob rule - Monarchy…
• Anti-luxury - promoted a version of
“Spartan” values of restraint, patriotism,
and austere order
• Believed that Rome was changing for the
worse after conquest of Greek territories
in 167 BCE

14. Tiberius Gracchus QuickTime™ and a
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• Noble ancestry but concrned about
widespread poverty in Italy
• Served as a Tribune - represented the people
• Land reforms: limited amount of land one
family could own or rent
• Released land to the public for redistribution
to landless peasant farmers
• Rural commoners were happy but old school
senators were opposed

15. Tiberius Gracchus
• His reforms passed in the Assembly but the
senate wouldn’t allocate the funds he needed
to carry out the plan -> fiscal matters were
traditionally in the hands of the Senate
• When he stood for re-election, the Senators
started a riot, claiming he wanted to be king,
and killed him on Capitol Hill along with 300
followers
• They said his killer was a liberator and a hero
fighting for freedom of SPQR

16. QuickTime™ and a
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Gracchus
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• Tiberius’ brother, also wanted more equality for the poor
• Elected as Tribune in 123 BC, ten years after his brother is
killed
• Tried to take control of the judicial system away from the
Senate (mixed juries, secret ballots)
• Set up subsidies for grain
• Proposed making some of the overseas territories Roman
colonies for the poor
• Extending citizenship rights to all Italians
• He and 3000 supporters were murdered

17. After the Gracchi…
• Deified by their supporters
• Traditionalists (optimates - “the best”)
reacted in the wake of these populist
attempts at reform
• Further polarization of the republic

18. Gaius Marius QuickTime™ and a
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• Military man, (not a patrician) held the
consulship 5 times in a row
• Military reformer
– Non-landowning citizens could serve
– Full-time professional force, 16 year terms
– All soldiers got pay, uniforms, weapons, and
training
• Soldiers wanted a share in booty and land
upon return - appealed to generals rather
than the state - shift in the balance of power
and control of the army

19. Cornelius Sulla
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• Noble, his family hated Marius’
reforms
• Backed by traditionalists
• Conflict over who would lead the
army against the Italian revolts -
Marius was chosen, and in
response Sully marched on Rome
• After this, Sully went on to ravage
Athens and other Greek cities
• A new consul, Cinna, banished
him but after Cinna died, Sulla
came back and started a civil war

20. Sulla’s Reforms
• Sulla won, and became Dictator to ‘settle the
state’ after the emergency
• Handed juries back to Senators
• Doubled the number of senators and installed
his supporters
• Regulated the channels through which
magistrates could rise to the Senate
• Tribunes could no longer go on to hold
magistracies
• Gave Italian land to his veteran soldiers
• Created civil courts and fleshed out legal code

21. So long, Sulla!
• Sulla retired as dictator and went back to
being consul
• Felt that he had been chosen by Venus and
prophesy that he would die at the height of
his good fortune
• Died in 79 BCE of disease
• Lavish public funeral
• After his death, the Senate was corrupt,
violent, and full of turmoil

22. Spartacus
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=mZO2QrDzcHc