Why is Tiberius Gracchus important to the study of the Roman Empire?

Answer 1

Tiberius Gracchus(and his brother Gaius ten year later) led a struggle to address the plight of the poor. The Gracchi brothers were seen by some modern socialist to have been the first socialists in history.

Tiberius Graccus tried implement a land reform that would redistribute land form the large landed estates of the patricians to address the economic plight of the poor. Peasants were being pushed off their farms by rich landowners who expanded their estates using slave labour. They migrated to Rome and lived in abject poverty due to a scarcity of work. They often had to rely on hand-outs by the by the rich by becoming their clients. The brothers tried to address this poverty by redistributing land to the displaced peasants.

Tiberius was elected plebeian tribune in 133 BC. He pressed for a land reform by using an old law that limited the amount of land that could be owned any individual. He used another law to establish a commission to oversee the redistribution of land which was made up of himself, his brother Gaius and his father-in-law. The senators, even the liberal ones opposed this as were worried that their lands would be confiscated. They got other tribunes to oppose the reforms. Tiberius then appealed to the people. The senators threatened to prosecute Tiberius after the end of his term. Thus Tiberius stood for re-election. The senators obstructed this. Then several of them attacked him with the help of hired thugs. Tiberius and some 300 of his supporters clubbed to death.

Answer 2

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.

Answer 3

The Gracchus brothers were considered important because of the social reforms that they advocated.