CLST 201 Lecture : 5Wk06L01L015L01.docx
8 Feb 2013
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Optimates (the best men) vs populares (the men of the people) 7 x consul = 107, 104-100 (5x), 86bc. 121bc transalpine gaul 8th roman province. 112 105bc jugurthine war micipsa adopted jugurtha. Gaius marcius born at arpinum in 157 bc. Held it 7 times (107, 104-100, 86) married to julius caesar"s aunt. 102 battle of aquae sextiae vs teutones. Marius" military reforms: marius created proletariat army, landless volunteers. 1 legion = 10 coherts of 600 men. Unhealthy rivalry between aristocracy and plebs escalated, eventually destroyed the republic. Root of strife: members of the senate always had to protect their dignitas (prestige) and auctoritas (authority) by any means in front of their peers. Two main political factions: optimates (conservatives, power wielding, old aristocratic nobility) Populares (also of senatorial aristocracy, sometimes of less distinguished birth (ie equestrian) who championed the cause of the poor and seized upon the plebs discontent to advance their own power) in late 2nd to 1rst century bc.
