The Discussion On The Gracchi’s Reform

Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Gaius Sempronius Gracchus are Outstanding politician and reformer in ancient Rome. Their land reform and the political democratization movement are very important in the history of the Roman republic. Since then, the land reform always remain at the forefront of Roman politics, despite the later land act is not completely consistent, they all come down in one continuous line. The most important reform measures of Gaius also play an important role in the social life of Rome. In addition, the Gracchi reform opens the era of the Roman civil war, violence in directly replace the negotiation, compromise, and other forms of legal struggle. A peaceful solution to the domestic dispute in the history of Rome Republic ended. Most importantly, the Gracchi reform movement shows that the position of Tribune contains infinite revolutionary spirit,thus raised the fears of the Senate to the Tribune. Since then, the struggle between the Democrats and the Optimates will become increasingly fierce in the history of the Roman republic.This paper is divided into three parts:introduction, text and conclusion.This text is divided in four Chapter to discuss the circumstances and content of Gracchi’s reform and its historical evaluation.Parts Ⅰ:Discussion on the historical background of the Gracchi reform:The victory of the war of conquest makes Rome become the overlord in the Mediterranean world. Rome slavery economy developed rapidly, but the Roman state also inevitably fall into the crisis.The prevalence of large land ownership makes many peasants bankrupt, the attendant problem of manpower also greatly reduced the fighting capacity of the Rome corps. At the same time, the social class relations within the Roman has changed dramatically, most of the civilian class is no longer the self-sufficient small farmers, but impoverished peasants and lumpen-proletariat. In addition, the Knight class as a new social class is on the rise, they are eager to get social position which matching their economic power. All of these makes the Rome social contradictions increasingly fierce. It is in this context that the Gracchi launched a land reform movement and the political democratization.Parts Ⅱ:Discussion on the specific process of Tiberius Gracchus’s reform.Tiberius Gracchus’s reform centered on land reform, aimed at curbing the popularity of large land ownership, to solve the problem of the lack of manpower resources. In order to carry out the land reform program, Tiberius repeatedly challenge the Rome tradition. Such as bypass the senate and submitted the bill to assembly, recall Octavian, intervene public affairs, seek re-election and so on.Tiberius Gracchus’s Land law harm the interests of big landowners to a certain extent, but for the senate, the bigger threat is that shook its ruling authority. On the final assembly, although Tiberius Success to win re-election, he was massacred in cold blood.Tiberius Gracchus’s reform movement eventually ended in bloodshed brutal.Parts Ⅲ:Discussion on the specific process of Gaius Gracchus’s reform.Gaius Gracchus’s reform measures involves many aspects. His land reform was extended to the colonial building. He also introduced corn law, construction method, trial method, Asiatic provinces of the tax law, the principles governing law and the law of the granting an Italian citizenship. Gaius’s reform measures obtain widely support, including civilians and lower the knight class. With the growing of Gaius’s prestige, the senate alienating his relationship with the public by many means, which makes Gaius fall into helpness. In 122 BC, Gius fail to win re-election, the opposition then take power and immediately set out to abolish Gaius’s reform measures.PartsIV:Discussion on the cause of the failure of the Gracchi’s reform and its historical influence, and make a concrete analysis on several problems which involved constitution, and then put forward my own opinions.Paper emphasizes that the Gracchi’s ultimate goal is to solve the plight of the Roman society, maintain the long-term development of Rome. From the perspective of the objective results of the reform, due to the stubborn of aristocratic power and reformist’s mistakes, their reform movement did not completely successful. But their reform movement has an important effect on the continuing political reform movement in the history of the Roman republic. Many of their reform measures, due to meeting the needs of Roman society, widely deep into the social life of Rome. In addition, a peaceful solution to the domestic dispute in the history of Rome Republic ended. Since then, the struggle between the Democrats and the Optimates will be increasingly fierce.