Crisis of the Republic (jan 1, 134 BC – mar 15, 44 BC)

Description:

This part of Roman history is characterised by extreme corruption and difference between the poor and the rich.
Massive influx of slaves from the conquered provinces into italy made the rich slave-owners even richer, while local farmers were unable to compete and were pushed into poverty (most moved to rome which made the city overcrowded).

This had an unforseen effect on the army, only rich citizens were able to afford equipment.

This enviroment created 2 political camps:

THE OPTIMATES
- Conservatives, pro-republic
(Sulla, Cicero... )

THE POPULISTS
- they wanted to redistribute the land, the optimates accused them of wanting to gain personal political power via the poor (similar to tyrants in greece)
( Gracchi brothers, Gaius Marius, Julius Caesar, Pompey...)

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