the Gracchi reforms

P.A Brunt interpretation of Gracchi reforms was that the division created problems of stability and the Senate had little power over the mobs and middle men and the reforms was a disregard for the magistrate but on the premise that  “…the highest law was the public safety’ and perhaps nothing more. 

The Eastward expansion of Rome to Africa and Asia Minor swelled the number of poor and placed people, whose lands were collateral for the survival of the Senate. It soon fetches problems for Rome and it was tethered against the wish of the State towards Civil war as earlier as 120 B.C.   

  

But these were popular lives and not military men, local champions with long held family values – some with some military or war experience and other not - including Sulpicius Rufus who dies in 88 B.C during next City-wide bloodshed.  

The question that we may not likely ask is if the Gracchi reforms were a form of ‘endangerment’ to the old established society or that the power of few who held Rome in its balls were threatened? 

Or could the reforms of Tiberius and those of his brother, Gaius, considered a threat to Roman ancient regime and therefore placed Senate and the magistrate under unusual conditions?

Or was it some it something else, that Gracchus saw a future that demanded the central authority – perhaps no necessarily a dictator who would direct the affairs of the State and who’s birth will coincide in lesser affairs of Rome in 100 B.C, a decade after the death of Gaius 

In the words of Michael Parenti, the pressing needs for land reforms, housing authority, agrarian and grain reforms was in the end between 121 B.C and 111 B.C could not have force the reaction from the public saving for the reason that Tiberius Gracchus was not only the leader of Roman Society, that his rules were initiated for his good and perhaps in the name of good and goodwill for Rome. 

Prove of this was the public reception of military politician Gaius Marius and one of the great Roman general – perhaps responsible for the spread of Rome’s influence in the East - Lucius Cornelius Sulla. 

But as more Plebs entered Rome and more lands confiscated abroad, the State experienced bigger problems of control, and some of the older families could not held accountable for any deeds performed against the State. 

The other issue which was not expected was the presence of military veteran from the East, who were now resident in Rome, who participated in Roman politics and goodwill but whose lands were appropriated by less members of the Senate – especially among totally corrupt families that Agrarian land policies. 

Tiberius Gracchus - The Elder – father to Tiberius S. Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus – was historically believed to have taken a side against one of the two Sons of Scipio – one was Scipio Africanus who is badly said to have gotten his name from the continent which he conquered.

 But this is not far from the tree, since Africa was and is still an Island in what is now Tunisia and the story the connection of Publius Cornelius Scipo to Cornelia Africana more than sealed the support of Tiberius Gracchus, and impresses that the reason for the opposition against Hannibal and Cartage was the problem of Rights and Responsibility.