Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/rome/4-03-revolution-gaius-gracchus.asp

ELPENOR - Home of the Greek Word

Three Millennia of Greek Literature
Constantinople Home Page  

Please note that Mommsen uses the AUC chronology (Ab Urbe Condita), i.e. from the founding of the City of Rome. You can use this reference table to have the B.C. dates

THE HISTORY OF OLD ROME

IV. The Revolution

From: The History of Rome, by Theodor Mommsen
Translated with the sanction of the author by William Purdie Dickson


The History of Old Rome

ELPENOR EDITIONS IN PRINT

The Original Greek New Testament

» Contents of this Chapter

The Commisssion for Distributing the Domains ||| Its Suspension by Scipio Aemilianus ||| Assassination of Aemilianus ||| Democratic Agitation under Carbo and Flaccus ||| Destruction of Fregallae ||| Gaius Gracchus ||| Alterations on the Constituion by Gaius Gracchus - Distribution of Grain - Change in the Order of Voting ||| Agrarian Laws - Colony of Capua - Transmarine Colonialization ||| Modifications of the Penal Law ||| Elevation of the Equestrian Order ||| Insignia of the Equites ||| Taxation of Asia ||| Jury Courts ||| Monarchical Government Substituted for That of the Senate ||| Character of the Constitution of Gaius Gracchus ||| The Question As to the Allies ||| Overthrow of Gracchus ||| Rival Demagogism of the Senate - The Livian Laws ||| Attack on the Transmarine Colonialization - Downfall of Gracchus


The Commisssion for Distributing the Domains

Tiberius Gracchus was dead; but his two works, the distribution of land and the revolution, survived their author. In presence of the starving agricultural proletariate the senate might venture on a murder, but it could not make use of that murder to annul the Sempronian agrarian law; the law itself had been far more strengthened than shaken by the frantic outbreak of party fury.

The party of the aristocracy friendly towards reform, which openly favoured the distribution of the domains--headed by Quintus Metellus, just about this time (623) censor, and Publius Scaevola--in concert with the party of Scipio Aemilianus, which was at least not disinclined to reform, gained the upper hand for the time being even in the senate; and a decree of the senate expressly directed the triumvirs to begin their labours.

According to the Sempronian law these were to be nominated annually by the community, and this was probably done: but from the nature of their task it was natural that the election should fall again and again on the same men, and new elections in the proper sense occurred only when a place became vacant through death.

Next Page of this Chapter

Do you see any typos or other mistakes? Please let us know and correct them

The History of Old Rome: Contents ||| The Medieval West | The Making of Europe | Constantinople Home Page

Three Millennia of Greek Literature

Receive updates :

Learned Freeware

Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/rome/4-03-revolution-gaius-gracchus.asp