The Brothers Gracchi - How Republics Fall - Extra History - Part 1

Summary

In 121 BCE, the Roman Republic faced internal strife and social unrest as a result of rapid expansion and war. The influx of foreign slaves disrupted the economy, leading to the displacement of native workers and a growing wealth gap. Citizen soldiers, once proud landowners, returned from wars to find their farms bankrupt and unable to compete with large estates. This discontent fueled the rise of demagogues like Tiberius and Gaius, who capitalized on the people's anger and the political elite's failure to address the growing crisis, setting the stage for the fall of the Republic.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Roman Republic faced a crisis in 121 BCE due to political, social, and economic upheavals.
• 🗳️ Elections were intense, with demagogues using violent rhetoric, reflecting a volatile political climate.
• 👥 A surge in foreign labor led to fear among native workers, altering the economic landscape.
• 💰 The wealthy became increasingly detached, exacerbating wealth disparity and social unrest.
• 🛡️ The Roman Empire expanded rapidly during the 2nd century BCE, with significant military conquests.
• 🌍 Rome's wars led to an influx of slaves, which transformed the economy and displaced native workers.
• 🏞️ The property requirement for military service and continuous wars led to the bankruptcy of many citizen soldiers.
• 🏘️ The middle class declined as small landholders lost their farms to large estates utilizing slave labor.
• 👨‍👦 Tiberius and Gaius, born into a notable plebeian family, would play significant roles in this era.
• 🏆 Tiberius demonstrated military and political prowess, including a key role in the fall of Carthage and diplomatic negotiations with the Numantians.

Q & A

What was the state of the Roman Republic in 121 BCE?

The Roman Republic was at a precipice, with demagogues preaching violence, a flood of foreign labor causing fear among the native workforce, and a wealthy elite consuming resources while ignoring the impoverished masses who were nearing a breaking point.

How did the Roman Empire expand during the second century BCE?

The Roman Empire expanded significantly during the second century BCE by defeating the Carthaginian Empire, gaining control over Greece, repelling the Gauls and Ligurians, and capturing the eastern coast of the Adriatic, effectively doubling in size within a single generation.

What was the impact of the influx of slaves on the Roman economy?

The influx of slaves from conquered territories led to the formation of vast estates worked by slaves, which displaced the native blue-collar working citizens of Rome. This cheap foreign labor changed the economic landscape, favoring the wealthy who could afford to buy and utilize slave labor.

How did the Roman army's property requirement affect the citizen soldiers?

The property requirement for enlisting in the Roman army meant that soldiers had to own their own equipment, which was a mark of pride and a sign of being well-off enough to serve. However, as wars became more frequent and prolonged, many citizen soldiers found their farms neglected and went bankrupt, leading to a decline in the middle class.

What was the social consequence of the Roman Republic's rapid expansion and economic changes?

The rapid expansion and economic changes led to a significant social consequence where the middle class of small landholders almost vanished. Many of them moved to Rome in search of work, leading to a rise in unemployment and discontent among the masses.

Who were Tiberius and Gaius, and what was their significance in the script?

Tiberius and Gaius were two boys born into plebeian families with notable heritage. Tiberius, the elder, was the son of a celebrated consul and served in the Roman military, eventually becoming a political figure. Their stories are used to illustrate the political and social dynamics of the time.

What was Tiberius' role in the final destruction of Carthage?

Tiberius served as a military tribune and was part of the campaign that led to the destruction of Carthage. According to legend, he was the first Roman to breach the city's walls.

How did Tiberius demonstrate his leadership and diplomacy during the Numantian Wars?

During the Numantian Wars, Tiberius demonstrated his leadership and diplomacy by successfully negotiating with the Numantians to save the lives of 20,000 Roman citizens and their attendants from becoming slaves or being slaughtered.

What was the reaction in Rome to Tiberius' actions in the Numantian Wars?

In Rome, Tiberius faced criticism from the elite who saw the peace treaty as a sign of weakness. However, he also experienced populism as the families of the soldiers he saved cheered him, and the people voted to save him from punishment.

What lesson did Tiberius learn from his experiences in the Numantian Wars?

Tiberius learned the power of the people, which he would later utilize in his political career. The experience taught him that public opinion could be a significant force in Roman politics.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Fall of the Republic

The script begins by painting a dire picture of the Roman Republic in 121 BCE, with elections becoming chaotic and demagogues advocating violence. The influx of foreign labor threatens the native workforce, while the wealthy elite, oblivious to the plight of the poor, risk being overthrown. The political elite, having lost touch with the people, are unable to prevent the crisis they've created. The narrative then shifts to the rapid expansion of Rome in the second century BCE, detailing the conquests that doubled the size of the Republic. The returning veteran soldiers, who were once proud small landholders, find themselves displaced by the influx of slaves and the rise of vast estates. This economic shift leads to the near disappearance of the middle class and a growing income disparity, creating a discontented populace. The paragraph introduces Tiberius and Gaius, two boys born into this tumultuous era, with notable heritage but plebeian status.

05:00

🛡️ Tiberius: The Young Military Tribune

The second paragraph delves into the life of Tiberius, who was born into a celebrated family with a father who was twice consul and twice triumphant. Despite his father's death when Tiberius was quite young, he was raised with a strong foundation in Roman arts and quickly ascended the military ranks. His first significant military role was as a tribune, where he served under his half-brother Scipio Aemilianus in the destruction of Carthage. Tiberius's bravery and leadership were recognized, and upon his return to Rome, he was elected quaestor. However, his service in the Numantian Wars under Gaius Mancinus was marked by defeat. When Mancinus attempted to retreat, leading to a disastrous situation, it was Tiberius who negotiated with the Numantians, securing the lives of thousands of Romans. Despite facing criticism from the Roman elite for this act, he was saved by the vote of the people, reflecting the power of populism. This experience taught Tiberius a valuable lesson about the influence of the common people.

Keywords

💡Demagogues

Demagogues are political leaders who seek support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. In the context of the video, demagogues are preaching the politics of violence in the streets, which reflects the social unrest and the manipulation of the masses by charismatic but potentially dangerous leaders. This is a key element in the video's theme of the decline of the Republic, as it shows how the political landscape is being influenced by individuals who prioritize their own power over the well-being of the state.

💡Foreign labor

Foreign labor refers to workers who come from other countries to work in a different nation. In the video, the influx of foreign labor, particularly slaves, is mentioned as a factor that instills fear in the native workforce. This is because the cheap labor from conquered territories is displacing Roman citizens from their jobs and changing the economic landscape, leading to social tension and contributing to the instability of the Republic.

💡Elections

Elections are the process by which voters choose their representatives in a democracy. The video script mentions elections as being 'like nobody's ever seen,' suggesting a period of intense political activity and potential chaos. This could be indicative of the broader political instability and the rise of demagogues, as the traditional political order is challenged by new and potentially disruptive forces.

💡Political elite

The political elite refers to the small group of people who hold a disproportionate amount of power and influence in a political system. In the video, the political elite are described as being out of touch with the common people, tied to the interests of money, and unable to address the growing problems within the Republic. Their inability to adapt and respond to the changing social and economic landscape is a significant factor in the decline of the Republic.

💡Veteran army

The veteran army refers to the experienced soldiers who have served in multiple military campaigns. In the script, the veteran army is composed of citizen soldiers who fought in the Punic Wars and other conquests, expanding the Roman Republic. However, upon their return, they face economic hardship and displacement due to the influx of slave labor and the consolidation of land by the wealthy, highlighting the disconnect between military service and societal rewards.

💡Slavery

Slavery is the state of being the legal property of another person and being forced to obey their commands. The video describes Rome as being flooded with slaves, as they were captured and sold after Rome's military victories. This influx of slaves changed the Roman economy, leading to the displacement of the native working class and contributing to the growing wealth gap and social unrest.

💡Citizen soldiers

Citizen soldiers are individuals who are both citizens of a state and serve in its military forces. The video highlights the role of citizen soldiers in the expansion of the Roman Republic, but also their eventual economic downfall. As they were away fighting wars, their farms were left unattended, leading to bankruptcy, and upon their return, they could not compete with the large estates worked by slaves.

💡Property requirement

A property requirement refers to a condition that one must own a certain amount of property to be eligible for certain rights or duties, such as joining the military. In the video, the Roman army's property requirement is mentioned as a point of pride for those who could afford to join. However, this requirement also contributed to the economic struggles of citizen soldiers, as they had to maintain a certain level of wealth to serve, which became increasingly difficult due to the changing economic landscape.

💡Income disparity

Income disparity refers to the unequal distribution of income within a population. The video script describes a growing income disparity in Rome, with the rich becoming richer through the acquisition of land and slave labor, while the middle class and small landholders are displaced and left without means to support themselves. This disparity is a significant factor in the social unrest and the potential for political upheaval.

💡Populism

Populism is a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by the established elite groups. In the video, Tiberius experiences populism firsthand when he is cheered by the families of soldiers he saved, despite being criticized by the political elite. This suggests a growing divide between the elite and the common people, with the potential for political figures to gain support by advocating for the interests of the masses against the established power structures.

💡Cursus honorum

The cursus honorum was the sequential order of public offices in the ancient Roman Republic. The video mentions Tiberius being elected quaestor, which is the second rank in this political career path. This system was designed to ensure that individuals progressed through various levels of responsibility and experience before reaching the highest offices, reflecting the structured approach to governance in the Republic.

Highlights

The Republic is at a precipice, with elections and demagogues inciting violence.

Foreign labor floods Rome, displacing native workers and instilling fear.

The political elite, stale and tied to wealth, cannot address the rising tensions.

The year is 121 BCE, a key moment in Rome's history as it approaches collapse.

The second century BCE marked Rome's immense expansion through wars and conquest.

Veteran citizen soldiers fought for Rome but returned to find their farms ruined.

The influx of slaves from conquered nations transformed Rome’s economy.

Rome's wealth became concentrated in vast estates owned by the rich, worked by slaves.

The middle class of small landholders disappeared, leading to mass migration to Rome.

Tiberius Gracchus, born in the 160s BCE, was raised with notable heritage and education.

Tiberius served with Scipio Aemilianus and fought in the final destruction of Carthage.

Tiberius negotiated with the Numantians, saving 20,000 Romans from slaughter or slavery.

Upon returning to Rome, Tiberius faced political backlash but also popular support.

The elite condemned Tiberius for signing a peace treaty they deemed dishonorable.

Tiberius learned the power of populism, which he would later wield in Roman politics.

Transcripts

The Republic is at a precipice. Elections are happening like nobody's ever seen.

Demagogues preach the politics of violence in the streets.

Vast amounts of foreign labor instill fear in the native workforce.

And the rich sit simply consuming all they can,

blind to the poor masses that can only take so much before they break and overthrow them.

All the while, the political elite is desperately trying to stop the very monster they created.

But the political elite have gotten so stale, so tied to the interests of money,

that they can't think to do anything but more of the same.

The year is 121 BCE, and this is how republics fall.

But 121 BCE is a long way off yet, because to tell the tale of 121 BCE

we have to talk about the things that led up to it.

To start with, we have to speak of the growth of Rome,

for you would be hard pressed to find a century more filled with war and expansion experienced by a single people.

The second century BCE was when the Roman Empire was won.

From the dawn of the second century to the 130's the Romans smashed the Carthaginian Empire,

taking back all of modern Spain and getting a foothold in North Africa.

They fought the Macedonians and the Seleucids to obtain total control of Greece.

They threw back the Gauls and the Ligurians, finally conquering all of Northern Italy.

They captured the eastern coast of the Adriatic.

The Roman Republic more than doubled in size in a single generation.

And all of this conquest was born on the backs of the veteran army,

the citizen soldiers that fought the later Punic Wars.

They conquered the globe for Rome, or at least what seemed like the globe to them.

But what was their reward? What happened to them when they returned home?

To answer that, we have to answer another question: what came from all these wars?

What happend to the defeated peoples? Well, they were made slaves and sold back in Roman markets.

So Rome was now flooded with slaves.

As tribe after tribe, country after country fell before the victorious Roman armies,

tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people were sent back to Italy in chains.

And this changed the economy of all of Rome.

Where once the engine of production had been the small landholder, the family that farmed their own land,

now wealth, unimaginable wealth started to coalesce.

Vast estates were gathered, worked solely by slaves.

This new cheap foreign labor completely displaced the blue-collar working citizens of Rome.

And as the new cheap labor flooded in, those that could afford to buy that labor

needed even more land to put it to work on. And how did they get that land?

Well, remember that the Roman army had a property requirement to enlist:

you had to be able to buy your own gear.

Armor, helmet, shield, pilum, and gladius, these were all paid for by the soldier who carried them.

It was a mark of pride amongst Romans to be of the class that could afford to join the army.

You might not be super rich, but you were doing well enough to do your duty for the State.

And for a long time, this worked, because most of Rome's wars were fought in Italy,

only going abroad for brief campaigns, or in the most dire of emergencies,

like that death struggle with Carthage. But that was no longer the case.

We look to that map and we see a long campaign in Spain and Greece.

These just weren't 6 month local affairs anymore.

And those that served were often called up time and again for the nearly continuous wars that Rome found itself in.

But, you can't leave a farm unattended for years on end.

And as these citizen soldiers marched across far away plains, thier farms lay fallow.

And so, as they were out serving Rome, they went bankrupt.

And even those who still had something to come home to

found that they couldn't compete against the vast slave farms.

And soon sold to the owners of the much larger estates and were turned off their lands to be replaced by foreign slaves.

And so the farms of the rich who stayed in Rome grew and grew with every war.

Never before had Rome seen such a disparity in income.

I mean, Rome had never been a place of equality, but outside the city,

what might be called the middle class had all but vanished.

Smaller landholders began to trickle and then flood into Rome, looking for work,

looking for a place where they might earn a living for themselves and for their families,

now that the trade that they had always practiced was disappearing.

But many of them never found work, or worked odd jobs that didn't fill their days.

And this gave them time. Time to sit and stew, time to be angry,

time to be angry without even really being sure who they were angry at.

Time to feel mistrated. And into this world, two boys are born. One named Tiberius, one named Gaius.

They were born plebeians but of the most notable heritage.

Their father had been a consul, and their mother was the daughter of Scipio Africanus.

Yes, that one. Tiberius was the elder by ten years, more even in temperament, more measured in speech.

It's him we'll follow first. Tiberius was born in the 160's.

His father was a celebrated man: twice consul, twice given a triumph. Hailed for his moral fiber.

But his father was old when Tiberius was born and died when the boy was somwhere between 10 and 15 years of age.

Tiberius was raised in the Roman arts: rhetoric, philosophy, religion, and of course war.

As soon as he was able, he became a military tribune, the first rank on the Roman political ladder.

And he shipped off to serve with his half brother, the famed Scipio Aemilianus,

in the final and utter destruction of Rome's ancient enemy, Carthage.

And of all Romans, according to legend, he was the first over the wall of that great city when it fell.

And through the campaign, he learned much from his half brother,

modeling himself after the great general.

He was hailed for his courage and loved by the men.

Upon his return to Rome he was elected quaestor, that second rank of the cursus honorum,

the political circuit of Rome.

As quaestor, he was sent to serve in the Numantian Wars, the fight to pacify Hispania.

But he had the misfortune to serve under Gaius Mancinus, who led the legions to defeat after defeat.

All the while Tiberius, a man of sober disposition, mantained his respect for the general and for the authority of comand.

Then in the dead of night, after yet another defeat, the nerve of Gaius Mancinus broke,

and he tried to have the army withdraw and abandon their camp.

But the Numantians heard them and were upon them like the wind. They were in the camp.

They smashed through the rearguard and drove the once proud legion unto impossible terrain.

Mancinus, utterly defeated, sent envoys to treat for terms of surrender, but the envoys were rebuffed.

The Numantians said they would speak to no man but Tiberius.

They had heard of him and they respected him. But more than that, they remembered the deeds of his father.

For his father too had fought in these lands, winning great victories for Rome,

and then always making sure that Rome abided by the terms of its peace.

So while Gaius cowered, Tiberius met the Numantians. By the negotiations end,

Tiberius had secured the lives of 20 thousand Roman citizens

and all of those that attended them from becoming slaves or slaughter.

And so, the defeated army marched back to Rome.

But, back at Rome, he met his first taste of ingratitude and the dangers of Roman politics,

for many among the elite were crying that the campaign was a disgrace,

that by signing the peace treaty they had made Rome look weak, look like a loser,

that Tiberius had bought his own safety with dishonorable surrender.

But here he also met with his first taste of populism,

for the families of those who he had saved cheered him.

And so, when the vote came to decide the fate of Tiberius and all the officers of the expedition,

the people voted to see him saved.

Only Gaius Mancinus would be handed over to the Numantians, naked and in chains.

And, though this victory surely had also to do with the intercession of his all powerful brother-in-law Scipio,

Tiberius had learned the power of the people. A power he would soon put to use.