In Our Time: History

The Gracchi

May 1, 2025
In this conversation, Kathryn Tempest, a Roman history lecturer, Catherine Steel, a professor of Classics, and Federico Santangelo, an ancient history expert, delve into the tragic tale of the Gracchi brothers. They discuss Tiberius's land reforms aimed at helping soldiers and Gaius's ambitious proposals for cheap grain and senatorial accountability. The brothers’ populist efforts ignited fierce elite backlash, culminating in their assassinations, which marked a chilling turn towards political violence in Rome and foreshadowed the rise of emperors.
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INSIGHT

Rome's Empire and Military Basis

  • Rome in the late 2nd century BC was a dominant Mediterranean power but its empire was a patchwork, not uniformly controlled.
  • Rome's military strength depended on a citizen militia of peasant farmers who owned land and served as soldiers.
INSIGHT

Tiberius Gracchus' Privileged Background

  • Tiberius Gracchus belonged to Rome's most illustrious family with strong military and political ties.
  • His background set him for success in Roman politics before his reformist and tragic path.
INSIGHT

Tiberius' Land Reform Objective

  • The crisis Tiberius aimed to fix was inequitable land holding in Italy threatening the traditional soldier-farmer model.
  • He sought to restore small land holdings and revive the citizen-soldier ideal to strengthen Rome's military base.
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