The Roman republic existed from about 287 BC until approximately 132 BC and consisted of both a ruling body of senators made up of the aristocratic and wealthy watched over by two elected leaders called consuls, and a assembly of the common peoples, watched over by a tribune.(This also was an elected position.) There were four main factors surrounding the Gracchi brothers that require examination. Firstly the motives of both brothers, their breaking of convention, the senatorial response, and the introduction of retroactive legislation and the use of violence. We will also establish how the warlords used this situation to their advantage. At the time which Tiberius became tribune, Rome was facing serious social, economic and political problems.

"If statesmen failed to grapple with the...