The Roman Republic-How did the use of slave labor by Roman landowners on large estates affect the agricultural community of the Italian peninsula?
The Roman Republic
Discussion 2 considers the social discontent and governmental problems brought on in Rome by Roman imperial adventures. The questions explore the relationship between the Punic Wars, the Roman domination of the Mediterranean, and social and political discontent in Rome.
- What motivated Romans to conquer Italy? How were conquered Italians treated?
- What aspects of the Roman character are illustrated by events of the Punic Wars?
- How did the use of slave labor by Roman landowners on large estates affect the agricultural community of the Italian peninsula?
- How does Polybius describe the structure of the government of the Roman Republic? What are the responsibilities of the consuls, the senate, and the people (through the Plebeian Assembly)?
- For Polybius there is a distinct balance between the elements of the Roman government, how do each of the different bodies (consuls, senate, and people) act as a check on the power of each other? Why couldn’t any one piece of the government become too powerful in the eyes of Polybius?
- How does Plutarch portray the parents of Tiberius Gracchus? How does he portray the character of Tiberius? Why are these portrayals important?
- To what social pressures in Roman society was Tiberius Gracchus responding when he proposed land redistribution? Why were his proposals logical at this time (133 BCE) in the life of the Roman Republic?
- How does Plutarch describe the distribution of land conquered by the Romans? How might one of those acquiring the land justify their acquisition?
- According to Caius, how did Tiberius come to the idea of land redistribution?
- How do you evaluate the conflict between Tiberius and Octavius? Plutarch presents the side of Tiberius, how might another present Octavius’ side?
- What was Tiberius’ plan for the funds willed to Rome by Attalus?
- Do you think that Tiberius’ plans for land reform could have worked? Why or why not? What might be some cogent reasons not to distribute land in this way?
- From reading of Tiberius’ actions in both Plutarch and the text, do you see him as an altruistic leader seeking to render revolutionary changes in Roman society or does he strike you as a political manipulator wanting only to maintain (and increase) his personal authority over all classes in the Roman state?
- Do the conflicts in your reading on Tiberius remind you of any contemporary disagreements on government social welfare policies? Explain.
- Has the reading on Tiberius in any way influenced your opinions on the role of government in social welfare? Why or why not? Explain.
