Aching Wrists

[Gibbon]

The constitution was basically one of a city state that was unsuited to an empire and the end of the Republic was inevitable. I think that the Gracchi's abuse of the tribune of the plebeians post is only one of a number of devices that stretched the constitution, including:

Holding post of Consul multiple times (Marius)
Holding post of Dictator for more than 6 months (Sulla)
Use of the 'consultum optimum de republica defendena' (emergency decree for the defence of the republic, various, including Cicero)
Sole Consul (Pompey)
Dictator in Perpetuo (Julius Caesar)
Imperator (Octavian / Augustus)

Next to these, the Gracchi's attempts to legislate for land reform and extra-constitutional abuse of the tribune of the plebeians' post looks mild, although threatening to those who had seen a transfer of public land into their own hands.

It is hard to understand the Gracchi because the source are those of the winning factions of aristocracy, but I think it's wrong to dismiss them as cynical demagogues rather than idealists (or idealist demagogues, perhaps).

Yes, it's all rather subjective. However the most extant sources for the Gracchi are Appian and Plutarch, both greeks writing some 250 years later and both with agendas. The closest sources we have are Cicero and a certain Siculus both writing about 50 BC and both these sources as in my opening post are scathing of Gaius in particular. The importance of the Gracchi was the precendents set; the use of the tribuneship to manipulate the people and bypassing the senate; also the use of murder in the political arena by their enemies.

[Old Greg]

But being of the higher orders of the aristocracy were they just using the people to gain power? Many would say so, including me.
Yes the system needing changing and land redistributing but they showed up a consistutional flaw that ultimately led to rule by one man.

The constitution was basically one of a city state that was unsuited to an empire and the end of the Republic was inevitable. I think that the Gracchi's abuse of the tribune of the plebeians post is only one of a number of devices that stretched the constitution, including:

Holding post of Consul multiple times (Marius)
Holding post of Dictator for more than 6 months (Sulla)
Use of the 'consultum optimum de republica defendena' (emergency decree for the defence of the republic, various, including Cicero)
Sole Consul (Pompey)
Dictator in Perpetuo (Julius Caesar)
Imperator (Octavian / Augustus)

Next to these, the Gracchi's attempts to legislate for land reform and extra-constitutional abuse of the tribune of the plebeians' post looks mild, although threatening to those who had seen a transfer of public land into their own hands.

It is hard to understand the Gracchi because the source are those of the winning factions of aristocracy, but I think it's wrong to dismiss them as cynical demagogues rather than idealists (or idealist demagogues, perhaps).

[Gibbon]

I always rather liked the Gracchi brothers. They used a constitution based on an electoral system rigged heavily in the favour of the aristocracy to attempt some kind of redress for the pressures being put on the ordinary Roman by social and economic changes. No wonder they were whacked.

But being of the higher orders of the aristocracy were they just using the people to gain power? Many would say so, including me.
Yes the system needing changing and land redistributing but they showed up a consistutional flaw that ultimately led to rule by one man.

[Old Greg]

I always rather liked the Gracchi brothers. They used a constitution based on an electoral system rigged heavily in the favour of the aristocracy to attempt some kind of redress for the pressures being put on the ordinary Roman by social and economic changes. No wonder they were whacked.

[Clippy]

Hire a Bob to do the writing for you.

Although all your answers may end up in Hinglish.

[Spacecadet]

Is there no option to type it in the exam?

[Gibbon]

I always enjoyed studying Cicero, he was one of the more interesting orators.

Good luck with the exam.

Thanks.

Yes Cicero is interesting and ironically more important now, as a good source, than he was alive during the fall of the republic. Although he came to an ill deserved end, but that was politics as it was.

[norrahe]

A week today and I've got my first essay type exam for 28 years, so I've been practising my handwriting and boy do my wrists ache.

Also whilst revising came across a bit of Cicero that has some startling revelancies for todays society.

(a)
Gaius Gracchus introduced a corn law. The commons were delighted, it made generous provision for the means of subsistence without their having to work for it. The boni found it repugnant, because they thought the commons were being encouraged to give up hard work and take to idleness, and they could see that the treasury was being drained dry. (Cicero, Pro Sestio 103)
(b)
... so too Gaius Gracchus. Although he had granted extravagant doles and poured out money from the treasury like water, he nevertheless spoke as if he were the watch-dog of the treasury. Why should I pay attention to words when the facts are in front of my eyes? The famous Lucius Piso Frugi had consistently opposed the corn law. But once the law had been ratified, for all that he was an ex-consul, he came along to collect his corn ration. Gracchus noticed Piso standing there in the crowd, and with the Roman people listening asked him how he could reconcile his applying for his corn ration with his opposition to the law which made it possible. ‘Idonot care for
this fancy of yours, Gracchus, to divide my goods among every
Tom, Dick and Harry’, replied Piso; ‘but, since that is what you
are doing, I shall claim my share.’ Does not the conduct of that
worthy and wise statesman make it plain that Rome’s public
wealth was being squandered by Gracchus’ law? Yet read
Gracchus’ speeches and you will declare him to be the jealous
guardian of the public purse.
(Cicero, Tusculan Disputations 3.48)

I always enjoyed studying Cicero, he was one of the more interesting orators.

Good luck with the exam.

[mudskipper]

I'm in the same boat, except I did one last year.

Someone suggested taking along a few different pens - the slight change in grip helps relieve the strain.

[EternalOptimist]

Try using your Dictophone

[ChrisPackit]

Swap hands half way through, also if you sit on your hand it feels like someone else is writing the essay for you

...and Paint your finger nails with a bright red nail varnish, so it looks as if someone else is doing it for you ........ the exam that is

[SimonMac]

Swap hands half way through, also if you sit on your hand it feels like someone else is writing the essay for you

[Gibbon]

A week today and I've got my first essay type exam for 28 years, so I've been practising my handwriting and boy do my wrists ache.

Also whilst revising came across a bit of Cicero that has some startling revelancies for todays society.

(a)
Gaius Gracchus introduced a corn law. The commons were delighted, it made generous provision for the means of subsistence without their having to work for it. The boni found it repugnant, because they thought the commons were being encouraged to give up hard work and take to idleness, and they could see that the treasury was being drained dry. (Cicero, Pro Sestio 103)
(b)
... so too Gaius Gracchus. Although he had granted extravagant doles and poured out money from the treasury like water, he nevertheless spoke as if he were the watch-dog of the treasury. Why should I pay attention to words when the facts are in front of my eyes? The famous Lucius Piso Frugi had consistently opposed the corn law. But once the law had been ratified, for all that he was an ex-consul, he came along to collect his corn ration. Gracchus noticed Piso standing there in the crowd, and with the Roman people listening asked him how he could reconcile his applying for his corn ration with his opposition to the law which made it possible. ‘Idonot care for
this fancy of yours, Gracchus, to divide my goods among every
Tom, Dick and Harry’, replied Piso; ‘but, since that is what you
are doing, I shall claim my share.’ Does not the conduct of that
worthy and wise statesman make it plain that Rome’s public
wealth was being squandered by Gracchus’ law? Yet read
Gracchus’ speeches and you will declare him to be the jealous
guardian of the public purse.
(Cicero, Tusculan Disputations 3.48)