LO3

• By then end of the Punic wars, Rome ruled an empire far longer than any earlier city-state
• Citizens who lived in Rome had pretty much no voting rights. 
• The people who served in the war now served for years at a time.
• Those who came back often found their farms spoiled by neglect. 
• Proletarians- mere "producers of offspring," the lowest class of Roman citizens.
• A good social group was rising to prominence in Italy.
• It consisted of war profiteers of various sorts-contractors in the armed forced and dealers in loot and slaves.
• They used their money to buy ruined farms, restock them, and turn them to new purposes. 
• 150 B.C- Slaves made up nearly 1/3 of the population of Italy.
• In cities, slaves were secretaries and tutors.

• Patrician families still enjoyed the highest social prestige. 
• Cornelia- spent her life as widow after Tiberius died.
• Noblest Romans had to scramble to make sure they got their share of spoils in the empire.
• 'husbands divorced wives for the sake of more profitable family alliances.
• Aristocrats and senate had little interest in finding ways to solve the republicas problems.

• Tiberius, who was elected tribune of he people in 133 B.C, initiated to reform effort. 
• The senate attacked him as a dangerous trouble maker. 
• he decided to stand for reelection as a tribune. 
• The reform movement was defeated, but for the first time, it had brought into question the traditional government system of the Republic and the power of the Senate. 
• Soon the senate faced new challenges.
• Soldiers proved courageous and tough.
• Julius Caesar came from an old patrician family that had come down in the world.
• 60 B.C- He began to collaborate with Gnaeus Pompeius. 
• With the help of his friend Caesar won an appointment as proconsul of a providence that included southern regions of Gaul.
• Caesar used his new powers to attack the grave problems facing Rome.
• Caesar got assasinated.