CLA231H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Scipio Aemilianus, Third Punic War, Roman Senate
Document Summary
Introduction: populist politics was the use of public opinion as a political tool, although the senate held most of the power, the power of popularity over citizens could override even regular roman republican constitution. Scipio africanus: the two scipio brothers were popular from their campaign in spain during the punic. In 142, scipio won the office of censor through popular support, this again was opposed by the senate. In 137, another unconstitutional election happened when scipio was elected consul for the second time, again with opposition from the senate yet they had no power to stop it. Concluding remarks: the senate realized that popularity was extremely powerful in the political arena. In 139, a secret ballot vote law was made, meaning that the people could vote fearlessly without fear of intimidation from aristocrats: this law was opposed by the senate (being aristocrats themselves) but nonetheless it still passed.
