He's spot on until right here.
He left out the part where the owners of the latifundia brought in massive amounts of slave labor to work their newly acquired lands. The displaced Roman farmers, who not only provided the food for the city but also were classed based on their wealth into the various divisions of the republic's army ( hastati, principes, triari, equites, ) were the backbone of the force. Generally, the displaced farmers drifted into the city and became the urban mob. Politically there had been serious rifts between the patrician and plebian classes since virtually the founding of the republic but in the aftermath of the fall of Carthage and Corinth ( both in 146 BC). Within 20 years the Gracchi brothers were leading the populist movement calling for land reform and although both were murdered by Patrician thugs the process continued on until Caesar defeated Pompey.
When I have time tonight I'll have to read the whole thing.
Quote:They’re going to be tenant owners or sharecroppers and it has a really corrosive effect on the traditional ways of economic life and political life.
He left out the part where the owners of the latifundia brought in massive amounts of slave labor to work their newly acquired lands. The displaced Roman farmers, who not only provided the food for the city but also were classed based on their wealth into the various divisions of the republic's army ( hastati, principes, triari, equites, ) were the backbone of the force. Generally, the displaced farmers drifted into the city and became the urban mob. Politically there had been serious rifts between the patrician and plebian classes since virtually the founding of the republic but in the aftermath of the fall of Carthage and Corinth ( both in 146 BC). Within 20 years the Gracchi brothers were leading the populist movement calling for land reform and although both were murdered by Patrician thugs the process continued on until Caesar defeated Pompey.
When I have time tonight I'll have to read the whole thing.
