circuses” bread (free grain from the state) and entertainment (Circus Maximus, Colosseum), partly to keep them alive, and partly to keep them quiet, distracted, and docile Tiberius Gracchus recognized the advantages of courting the plebeians (even though he was ultimately unsuccessful) military generals worked that angle - lead an army that conquers a land, then give them a share in the spoils soldiers’ loyalty was to their military leader, not necessarily to Rome or the Republic Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BCE) a highly successful general he conquered the huge territory of Gaul made common folks happy made friends in high places Pompey (a general who conquered Syria and Palestine) Crassus (the richest man in Rome, one of the richest men in all history these three men formed the First Triumvirate (“rule of three men”) Serves as consul (one year) Appoints himself governor of Gaul Pompey is jealous, becomes his rival Caesar’s armies clash wit
how did the patricians dominate? plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office plebs were threatened with debt slavery plebs had no legal rights plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs patricians could interpret these to their own advantage So, plebs refused to serve in the military until… laws were written out (The Law of the Twelve Tables) these laws (on tablets) were posted in public (in 450 BCE) tribunes (“tribal leaders”) were elected SPQR - Senatus Populusque Romanum designates any decree or decision made by “the Roman Senate and People” brand new republic, ready to run democracy (the people’s assembly and the tribunes aristocracy (the Senate - approx. 300 members) plus monarchy (the consuls) not a tyranny (eww… too scary… a mistake the Romans did not care to repeat) originally, the US modeled their new government on the model used by the
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