RiseofRome

StudySheet7

Fall2014
FirstMaterialCoveredPostMidterm

Identifications
CultofBacchus:
CultdeeplyentrenchedinthecitiesofCampaniaandthesouth
o ImportanttoGreekcommunitiesandwascharacterizedbyorgies,sacrifices,
winegod
186BCSpuriusPostumiusAlbinusbegananinvestigationintothis;banned
Senateissuedadecreetobanonmanyofthecultpractices
MarkstheincreaseinRomaninterventionthatbeganpost2ndPunicWar
MarksworseningrelationsbetweenRomeandallies
o Partofmistreatmentofalliesduringsecondcentury
o TensionsformedthatwasexacerbatedbypunishmentofGreeks
Approx.200BC
Ambitus:
The excessive pursuit of offices and popularity. Two laws regulating this were
passed in the first half of the second century. Complaints that one was guilty of
ambitus were usually made when a less prominent candidate defeated one higher
in nobility.
walkingaround
synonomouswithpoliticalcorruption
winninginfluencethroughsoftpower/bribery
LexOppia(215BC)
limitswomeninwhattheycanhave
195BCrepealedbecauseofthevastamountofwealthinRome
Marcus(M.)PorciusCato=CatotheElder
novushomo;Sabinewithnofamily
o constantlyvisibleandactiveinpoliticallifeevenintooldagetostayrelevant
limitgreekcultureatRome
o wasinintensedisputewithPCorneliusScipioAemilianusAfricanusofGreek
culturebecomingtodominant
o cabbagesolveseverythingbecausedistrustgreekdoctrineandmeds
o doesntadvocatebutdefinitelyspokegreek
gainedrespectfrommodelingoftraditionalbehavior(Republicanism)
o doesntdoanythingagainstthelaw
formidablesoldier,verystern
o famousfornotgivingbulkofspoilsofwartolegatesandinsteadspreadamong
soldiers
o bettermanyhavelittlethanfewhavealot
paradigmofseveritas(embodiesmosmaiorum)

o peopleaspiretoseveritaseventhoughtheydontlikeit
o soldoldslavesratherthanfreethem
allieswithquintusfabiusmaximus
o OpposeScipio
Asquestorin204BCinSicily,complainScipiosspending
However,investigationfindsnothing=Catoleavesposition
Asconsul,goestoSpaintofightbloodysuccessfulwarandgetsTriumph
o AngersScipio
afterconsul,staysinpoliticalspotlightbyfrequentlysuinganyonewhodoesnotabideby
Romanlaws
Tiberius(Ti.)SemproniusGracchus
165132BC
nobilis
o camefromestablishednoblewhitemother
daughterofAfricanus
highlyeducated
militarycareerstartswell(militarytribunein3rdPunicWar)
campaignasquaestorin137BCinnearerSpaindisastrous
o consultowhomheisassignedisincompetent=retreat
o negotiatespeacewithNumantians
RomanstoevacuateandSpaniardsdontattack
highlyirregular
scandalofledgers
o senateinfuriatedandrejectspeace
isntconsulsocantaskenemyforfavorsandnegotiations
consul/generalforcedtostripnakeandmarchbacktoNumantia
o avoidsbadpunishmentviainfluenceofbrotherinlawScipioAmilianusbut
dignitasdamaged
careereffectivelyoversincealreadyatlowestposition
higherofficesclosedoff
senatefrustratedhisabilitytoascendintheranks
asnobilis,feelsshouldgetbettertreatment
o wantstostillbeactivepolitically
o newwaytostayinpoliticsandgaininfluence
134/135electedasTribuneofPlebs
landcrisissincemid2ndcentury(riseoflargeestates,increasedrelianceonslaves,
massivebodyofurbanpoor)
o noticedonhiswaybackfromNumantia
o usedtohisadvantage
LexSemproniaagrarian:lawconcerningland
o Agerpublicus:publicland

CapturedinwarinRomesconquestofItalianPenninsulainthe3rdand4th
centuriesBCthenagaintopunishdisloyalalliesin2ndpunicwar(218201
BC)
o Propose:enforceexistinglawofpossessing500ugara,butgetfullownership
whileremaininglandgiventopoor
Possess=have
Own=legalrightsto
o Purpose:decreaseurbanpopulationandincreasemilitaryservice
o Opposedbysenatebecauselimitedtheirwealth(manyhadmuchmorethan500
ugara
o Triumviri(3menincharge)toredistributeland
o SenaterefusestoapprovebillTigoestoplebs(relyoncomitiaplebisandtheir
powertoenactlaws)
SenatedoesntwantTigetmoresupportfrompeoplewhoarebenefiting
fromproposal
Senatecooptstr.M.Octaviustovetobill
o CallsTitosenatewhoexpectstobeheardbutisinsteadberatedbytheSenateto
fallinline=Tiwithdraworiginalbillonlytoproposeanevenmoreradical
o MOctaviusvetosbecausehesawthesenatedidntapprove
o TimovestodisposeOctaviusandissuccessful
AccusedOctaviusofactingagainsttheinterestofplebswhenasatribune
despiteitbeinghisduty
HisreplacementlistenstoTiandpasseslaw
o Senatestillopposesandrefusesfunding
o TiusesnewlyaquairedterritoryfromKingAttalidofPergamontofundlandbill
byproposingtoconciliumplebiswhohadneverbeforedealtwithmoney
Passed
TiandhisbrotherbecomepartofTriumviri=increasedignitas
Nowseeasplitonhowpplgetdignitas
Commonpeopleorelite
o Billalienateshimfromelites/nobilis
ForeignpolicyusuallySenatejobandhewastrespassing/challenging
perogatives
Workoninsidertip(friendlywithKing)
o Astermalmostup,abouttolosesacrosanctityandrunsforunprecedented
(perhapsillegal)secondtermastribunate
ConfusionthatTiwasaskingforregnumwhenentercomitia=Killed
alongwith300ofhisfollowersbyScipioNasica(consul138BC;pont.
Max)andhisgroupofinfluentialsenators
LandcommissioncontinuesbecauseSenatefeelsitstoo
dangeroustotakeawayimmediately
Marcus(M.)Octavius
TribunethattheSenatecooptstostopTi.Gracchusandhislandbill

o VetosaccordingtowhattheSenatewants
Accusedofactactingagainsttheinterestofplebswhenasatribunedespiteitbeinghis
duty(byTi)andremovedfromoffice
AttalusIIIofPergamum
BequeathsKingdomtoRomeafterhedies
Tiusethistofundlandreforms
o PerhapsTiknewthiswasgoingtohappensincetheywerefriendly
o
Publius(P.)CorneliusScipioNasicaSerapio
consul138BC;pont.Max
putstogaoverheadandkillsTi.
ScipioNasicasenttoPergamumandneverpunishedformurderofviolatingsacrosancityt
o Consecratio:togaoverheadisreligiouscueforasacrifice/dealthsentence

Gaius(C.)SemproniusGracchus(153121BC)
153121BC
trainedinoratory
extremelyactiveandhandson
133BCservesonlandcommissionatage21(youngestpossible)
o 132goesincognitoafterbrosdeath
126BCquaestorshipassignedtoSardiniaandCorsica
o rivalshappyhesaway
o goesaroundSardiniaaksingfordonationstofund
o praetorrepeatedlyproroguedinSariniameansGaiusmuststaytoo
o 124BCreturnstoRomeandwelcomedbytheurbanpoorexpectinghimto
continuehathisbrotherhaddone
talkedhimselfoutoflawsuitsforquittingfield
123BCelectedtribuneofPleb
o conciliumpackedwithItalianswhohadgottenlandfrombroandvotedforhim
o showedhisdignitas=rightforenemiestobeconcerned
o clearlegislativeagendabutunclearorder
o manylawsonarangeofissuesbutallbroadlypopulistandinvolveredistribution
ofwealth(Timorenarrow)
citizenassembliesratherthanprivatecourtsmusttryallcapitalcases
usuallycomitiacenturiahearsandcounselsjudges
briberyincapitalcaseiscapitaloffense
indicatesgrowingdistrust
renewlandreformlaw
powersoftriumvirilimited(wasntpopularwhenTiinitially
propose)
emphasisoncoloniae
o concessionforpeoplewhodontlikelaw

o giveupromancitizenshipandcantvote
LexSemproniaFrumentaria123BC
RomansinRomeentitledtobuyfixedamoutgrainatfixedprice
eachmonth
Increasebeaurocracyandresponsibilitygivenaedilesotheir
dignitasincrease
Provinciaetobedeterminedbeforeelections
Checkonsenatorstopreventthemfromgivingfavorstopeople
Recognizesenatehaspowertosaywherepeopleneeded
Pergamumremainsasingletaxregion
Publicanbidonthewholeprovincefor5years
Senatorsnolongerjurorsinquestoionesperpetuae(standingcourts)
Taskgiventoequites(newsocialdivision)
CitizenshipbillforItanlians(fail)
Fullcitizenshipgiventolatins
LatinrightsgiventoallItalians
Plebsopposeferventlybecauselikedtheirnewpowerandworry
thatincreasingcitizenshipdecreasetheirpower
o Senatorialoppositiondoomedtorail
Riskedanothershowdown
Gaiusbillsarerelevantandreflectedneededchange
o C.winssecondtermfor122BC,butfailstowinathird
Overeagertopleaseplebs
NotagoodideatoleavetoAfricawherehehadnopowerinsideRome
(outofpubliceye/attention)
Fearofwhatwouldhappentohimafterlosinglegalandpopular
protection=ledarmedinsurrection
Hostisvscivis
o Hostis:publicenemyinwhichrightsascitizennolonger
guaranteedandwhomtheuseofmartialvaloris
acceptable/honorable
o Civis:fellowcitizen
o Senatedismantleslaws
Marcus(M.)FulviusFlaccus
consul125BC
oneofGaiusonlybackers
tribunewithGaiusin123BC
o representsthefirsttimeaconsulstepsdowntheladderofthecursushonorum
o suggeststhatthetribunatehasgainedimmenseimportance/prestigesincethe
deathofTiberius
eventuallysuggeststooradicalreforms=fearsaimforregnum
o eventuallyleadstoslayingbyOpimius
LexSemproniaFrumentaria123BC

 RomansinRomeentitledtobuyfixedamoutgrainatfixedpriceeachmonth
Increasebeaurocracyandresponsibilitygivenaedilesotheirdignitasincrease
Equites
newsocialdistinctionbetweensenatorsandequites
senatorialequites/knights
highestclass
wealthiestofficeholdingcitizens
Allsenatorsareequitesbutnotallequitesaresenators
Newsocial
Marcus(M.)LiviusDrusustheElder
(tr.pl.122BC;cos.112BC)
Oldnoblest
ProposelawsevenmoreextremetheGaiusandcitesSenateapproval
Neverleadsthewayshowingthathedidntneedthedignitasfromleadingtasks=people
thinkhesmoregenuineinhelpingpeople
EffectivelypreventsGaiusfrom3rdterm
Lucius(L.)Opimius
Consul121BC
LeadsriotduringvotebetweenDrususandGaius=dealthoflictor
o SenatetriestogetpopularsupportbylayingbodyoutinForumtogivepower
deathandshowwhathappenswhenGaiusgetsoverexcited
Backfires;insteadpeopleturnandriotbecauselectorgotproperburialbut
Tididnt
AfterGaiusdeclaresanarmedinsurrectionofRomanplebs(becauselostelectionand
sacrosanctity/nophysicalorlegalprotection),L.OpimiusConsultssenate(likewhat
consulshoulddo),whogiveshimsenatusconsultumultimum
GathersgoodmenandkillFlaccus+3000otherswhileGaiuscommitssuicide
o Notchargedwithcrime
Restorestempleofconcord
senatusconsultumultimum
Finaldecreeofsenate
Authorizesconsultodowhatevernecessaryforthepreservationofstate
GiventoOpimiuswasfirsttimeissued
Lacksanylegalauthoritylikeothersenatusconsulta,butmeanttoemphasizethatsenate
willuseitsmoralauthoritytosupporthimifthereareanyreprocussionsforactionstaken
intimeofcrisis
Optimatesvspopulares
PoliticiansatRomesplitafterGracchibrothersdeaths(theyrepresentedpopulares)
Optimates:selfproclaimedbestmeninsate
o Pursueinfluenceintraditionalmanner(holdoffice,foreigncommands)
Populares:menofthepeople

o Pursueinfluencethroughtribunateandtheurbanpopulation/plebs(graindole,
publicworks)

Readingprompts:
>>ForbibliographicalinformationonPlutarch,seeStudySheet6.
CatotheElder
HowdoesCatobuildareputationforhimself?Whatarehisinnatetalents?Howdothese
comparewithotherpeopleacquiringgreatdignitasduringthisperiod?AreCatostalents
opposedorcomplementarytothoseofothers?
WhatdoCatosactionsasquaestortellyouabouttherelationshipbetweenquaestorsand
consuls?
PlutarchrecordsmanyofCatosfamoussayings.HowmanyoftheseinvokeRomanexempla?
Howmanyasfarasyoucantell,basedonyourfamiliarityinvokeGreekstories?What
mightthistellyouaboutCatoseducation?HowdoesthisjibewithPlutarchsassertionthat
CatomockedallthosewhoadmiredGreekculture?
PlutarchnotesrepeatedlythatCatoneverstoppedtryingtostayinthepublicspotlightevenafter
hehadattainedglorioussuccesses;furthermore,hesuggeststhatthisdifferentiatedCatofrom
otherRomans.WhataboutM.PorciusCatomightaccountforthisinsatiabledrivetoremainin
thepublicseye?
WhydoelitesenatorsopposeCatoselectiontothecensorship?Canyouthinkofanyreasons
beyondthosePlutarchproposes?
Catospopularityisprovedbyhiselectiontonumerousoffices.Whichactionsorbehaviorsadd
tothispopularity?Whichactionsorbehaviorsdetractfromit?
TiberiusandGaiusGracchus
>>PlutarchdoesnotenvisiontheLivesofTiberiusandGaiusGracchusas
separateentities;rather,thetwoofthemarepairedwiththeSpartanreformer
kingsAgisandCleomenes.Asyoureadthelivesofthesebrothers,payspecial
attentiontohowTiberiusandGaiusdifferfromoneanother,aswellastohow
Plutarchdescribestheircharacters,motivations,andlegislation.Although
Plutarchisnotinfallible(hewrotec.250yearsaftertheeventsinquestion),he
hadaccesstomanysourcesthatarenowlosttous,andthusremainsoneofour
bestaccountsofthisperiodofRomanhistory.
PlutarchspendsmuchtimetalkingaboutCornelia,themotheroftheGracchi,goingsofarasto
giveherthefinalsceneofthelives.Whatdoesthisaddtohisaccountofthebrothers?How

doesithelptoexplaintheiractionsandcharacters?Whatisthereadersupposedtogetoutofthe
finaldepictionofCornelia?HowdoesitinfluenceyourunderstandingoftheLives?
ThefirstpagesoftheTiberiusGracchusdealwithTi.Gracchusmilitarycareer.Howwould
youcharacterizehisperformance?Doesheactinatraditionaloruntraditionalway?Ishe
successfulorunsuccessful?
PlutarchcontinuallycaststhedisputebetweenTi.Gracchusandthesenateasadisputebetween
richandpoor.Doesthisseemfeasibletoyou?OrarethereotherreasonswhyTi.Gracchus
mightpursuethepoliciesthathedoes?
PeopledressinmourningnumeroustimesthroughouttheTiberiusGracchus.Whoarethey,and
whydotheydothis?Whatisthismeanttoconveytootherpeople?Whateffectisitsupposed
tohaveonthem?
HowdoesGaiusGracchuscometoholdapositionofinfluenceinthestate?Howdoesthis
differfromthepathadoptedbyhisbrother?
WhatmightaccountforGaiuseagernesstoparticipateactivelyinandbeinchargeofnearly
everyprogramthathegetspassedintolaw?