Many historians have cited moral decline that began after the Punic Wars as a leading cause in the decline of the Roman Republic. While there are different interpretations of this idea, the conflict between ambition and equality was a problem that was built into the Roman system and was ultimately never completely resolved in the Republic. A frustrated underclass of Roman citizens and other Italians who saw their farms shrinking and their economic opportunities limited as a result of the changing economic conditions after the Punic War provided the perfect opportunity for cynical politicians to appeal to populism and ambitious maneuvering to increase their own power and prestige. Whether you view them as populists or genuine reformers, men like Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus identified problems in the Roman system and tried to fix them as they saw fit. Ultimately the system swallowed them up and they failed to produce long lasting change to the corrupted system. But their demise introduced a new crisis that the Republic would never solve: political violence.

This is Part III in a series on the downfall of the Roman Republic. It focuses on Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus and their attempt to alleviate disenfranchised Romans who felt the new Roman economic system was leaving them behind.

Reflecting History is an educational history podcast that explores significant historical events and themes without losing track of the ordinary people involved. Covering a wide variety of topics, it is a narrative driven podcast that delves into the connection between history, psychology, and philosophy on a personal level.

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