What Are The Problems With The Ancient Roman Empire
The ancient Roman empire faced many difficult times, however this was one of the worst. First of all the problems with the Republic started when the Roman’s added more territory. Mainly because rich citizens just kept getting richer. In fact, because of this, leaders feared that violence would arise between the rich and the poor. The first leaders to address this problem were brothers named Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, they held the Tribunes political office. The first brother Tiberius took office in 133 BC, he wanted to create farms for the poor Romans. The purpose of this was to keep poor citizens happy and prevent rebellions. It’s where he wanted to create them that is interesting, because he wanted to create them on public land that
rich citizens had illegally taken over. Now as usual the public supported this idea, while the rich opposed it. In addition, conflict over Tiberius’s idea lead to riots in the city. In fact, Tiberius was killed in one of the riots. Later Tiberius’s brother Gaius tried to do the same thing a few years later. He wanted to make farms for the poor citizens in Rome. Gaius also began to sell food to Rome’s poor citizens for a very cheap price. Now this idea didn’t make everyone happy it angered many powerful Romans, and like his brother was killed for it. The deaths of the Gracchus brothers changed Roman politics in many ways. One of which is people started to look at violence as a political weapon. In addition to this new form of politics, Rome desperately needed more troops in 107 BC. The consul Gaius Marius encouraged poor people to join the army, in response to the problem. This was a change for the Roman’s because before that time only property were allowed to join the army. The result of this change was thousands of poor and unemployed citizens started to join the army. In 88 BC a new consul arose known by the name of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. In fact, he had a conflict with Marius that started a civil war. Sulla, however won the civil war, and declared himself dictator. He then used his newfound power to punish his enemies. In conclusion Rome did have many dark times, but none were as bad as this.
rich citizens had illegally taken over. Now as usual the public supported this idea, while the rich opposed it. In addition, conflict over Tiberius’s idea lead to riots in the city. In fact, Tiberius was killed in one of the riots. Later Tiberius’s brother Gaius tried to do the same thing a few years later. He wanted to make farms for the poor citizens in Rome. Gaius also began to sell food to Rome’s poor citizens for a very cheap price. Now this idea didn’t make everyone happy it angered many powerful Romans, and like his brother was killed for it. The deaths of the Gracchus brothers changed Roman politics in many ways. One of which is people started to look at violence as a political weapon. In addition to this new form of politics, Rome desperately needed more troops in 107 BC. The consul Gaius Marius encouraged poor people to join the army, in response to the problem. This was a change for the Roman’s because before that time only property were allowed to join the army. The result of this change was thousands of poor and unemployed citizens started to join the army. In 88 BC a new consul arose known by the name of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. In fact, he had a conflict with Marius that started a civil war. Sulla, however won the civil war, and declared himself dictator. He then used his newfound power to punish his enemies. In conclusion Rome did have many dark times, but none were as bad as this.