gaf
5th June 2004, 14:32
91 bc rome
The roman world at this periode was sharply class-divided.The equestrian order broke away
from the senators and the senators were unable to support the tribune Livius Drussus.Thought
himself an aristocrat,Livius Drusus was a demagogue whose tactics were to offer citizenship
to the allied Italian cities(the socii).The assasination of Drusus in 91 turned popular discontent
to savage war,the Social War(between rome and her ally).Local loyolties were stong and active
especially among the backward people of the Apennines.Two tribes,the Marsi in the north and
the Samnites in the south,rallied the other socci against Rome.In the year 90 bc the city itself
was incircled and appeared to be at the mercy of the insurgents.The gravity of the situation was
overcome only by Rome's tardy concession of political rights:
in 90 bc the lex julia offered Roman citizenship to those allies who were willing to lay down there
arms.In the following year the lex Plautia Papiria granted similar rights to all individuals
who applied for them.Social tension was ceased by these concession but only temporarily. within
a year a skilful manooeuvring of the comitia tributa was cheating the new electorate of its full
....power!!!!!!!
The roman world at this periode was sharply class-divided.The equestrian order broke away
from the senators and the senators were unable to support the tribune Livius Drussus.Thought
himself an aristocrat,Livius Drusus was a demagogue whose tactics were to offer citizenship
to the allied Italian cities(the socii).The assasination of Drusus in 91 turned popular discontent
to savage war,the Social War(between rome and her ally).Local loyolties were stong and active
especially among the backward people of the Apennines.Two tribes,the Marsi in the north and
the Samnites in the south,rallied the other socci against Rome.In the year 90 bc the city itself
was incircled and appeared to be at the mercy of the insurgents.The gravity of the situation was
overcome only by Rome's tardy concession of political rights:
in 90 bc the lex julia offered Roman citizenship to those allies who were willing to lay down there
arms.In the following year the lex Plautia Papiria granted similar rights to all individuals
who applied for them.Social tension was ceased by these concession but only temporarily. within
a year a skilful manooeuvring of the comitia tributa was cheating the new electorate of its full
....power!!!!!!!