the roman republican cycle (350-30 bce) by megan nickel

The Roman Republican The Roman Republican Cycle (350-30 BCE)Cycle (350-30 BCE)

By Megan NickelBy Megan Nickel

Population DynamicsPopulation Dynamics


First Phase (225-200 BCE)First Phase (225-200 BCE) Population decline because of Hannibalic Population decline because of Hannibalic

WarWar 22% population decline from 3 to 2.35 22% population decline from 3 to 2.35

million peoplemillion people


Second Phase (200-100 BCE)Second Phase (200-100 BCE) Population increase by 44% from 2.35 to Population increase by 44% from 2.35 to

3.39 million people3.39 million people


Last Phase (100 -0 BCE)Last Phase (100 -0 BCE) Population declined as a result of constant Population declined as a result of constant

civil wars, high urbanization, and, during civil wars, high urbanization, and, during later stages, massive state-sponsored later stages, massive state-sponsored population transferspopulation transfers

Population is back down to levels that it Population is back down to levels that it was in 225 BCE at the beginning of the was in 225 BCE at the beginning of the cyclecycle

Social Structure and Elite DynamicsSocial Structure and Elite Dynamics

The Highest Stratum of SocietyThe Highest Stratum of Society Senators were the governing class during Senators were the governing class during

this periodthis period They provided officers for the military, They provided officers for the military,

served as government officials and had served as government officials and had large religious roleslarge religious roles

They were also wealthy land ownersThey were also wealthy land owners


Next highest social stratumNext highest social stratum Equestrians- lesser aristocrats who served Equestrians- lesser aristocrats who served

as cavalry in the armyas cavalry in the army Businessmen and merchantsBusinessmen and merchants Jury service reserved for equestriansJury service reserved for equestrians


Lower stratumLower stratum Common population- small landowners Common population- small landowners Served as infantryServed as infantry Voted in public electionsVoted in public elections The wealthiest of this class and the The wealthiest of this class and the

equestrians dominated the vote and also equestrians dominated the vote and also paid most of the property taxpaid most of the property tax


Next lowest stratumNext lowest stratum Citizens with property who Turchin Citizens with property who Turchin

supposes were far above the subsistence supposes were far above the subsistence level of wealthlevel of wealth

Lowest stratumLowest stratum Slaves, foreigners, landless citizens and Slaves, foreigners, landless citizens and

freedmenfreedmen


Around 300 BCE the bulk of the population Around 300 BCE the bulk of the population were the small landownerswere the small landowners


300-200BCE300-200BCE Based on the number of Roman cavalry Based on the number of Roman cavalry

and infantry, Turchin estimates that the and infantry, Turchin estimates that the ratio of elites (senators and equestrians) to ratio of elites (senators and equestrians) to non-elite landowners was 1:10.non-elite landowners was 1:10.

Non-elite landowners make up majority of Non-elite landowners make up majority of populationpopulation


Elites followed the same pattern as the Elites followed the same pattern as the rest of the population rest of the population

Increase moderately until 250 BCEIncrease moderately until 250 BCE Decrease until 200 BCEDecrease until 200 BCE Rapid increase from 200-100 BCERapid increase from 200-100 BCE

From the fourth century to the first, Rome From the fourth century to the first, Rome increased its territory 600-foldincreased its territory 600-fold

This solved the problem of landless This solved the problem of landless citizenscitizens

Rather than relying mainly on taxes, the Rather than relying mainly on taxes, the Roman government and elites were able Roman government and elites were able to live off of the spoils of conquestto live off of the spoils of conquest

State revenues increased during the 3State revenues increased during the 3rdrd century because of wars, but stagnated century because of wars, but stagnated during the 2during the 2ndnd because there were no more because there were no more territories to conquerterritories to conquer

State FinancesState Finances

Sociopolitical InstabilitySociopolitical Instability

From 342-132, Rome experienced no civil From 342-132, Rome experienced no civil warwar

The century following this period was The century following this period was almost constant civil waralmost constant civil war

Sociopolitical InstabilitySociopolitical Instability

Long Expansion (350-180 BCE)Long Expansion (350-180 BCE)

Population doubled and territory Population doubled and territory quintupled, thus population density quintupled, thus population density declined taking care of the problems of declined taking care of the problems of landless citizens and also decreasing landless citizens and also decreasing struggles for internal resourcesstruggles for internal resources

Everyone was focused on external warsEveryone was focused on external wars During 2During 2ndnd half of 3 half of 3rdrd century, population century, population

declined because of wardeclined because of war

Long Expansion (350-180 BCE)Long Expansion (350-180 BCE)

After 200 BCE, all Roman wars were After 200 BCE, all Roman wars were fought externally and thus fewer casualtiesfought externally and thus fewer casualties

Roman territory remained the same size, Roman territory remained the same size, so population density increased by up to so population density increased by up to 50%50%

Stagflation (133-29 BCE)Stagflation (133-29 BCE)

This period was preceded by This period was preceded by Popular immiserationPopular immiseration Intense intra-elite competition Intense intra-elite competition Stagnation of state revenuesStagnation of state revenues


This period is an example of a classical This period is an example of a classical demographic-structural crisisdemographic-structural crisis

It involved state collapse and chronic civil It involved state collapse and chronic civil warfarewarfare

The Republic underwent a deep The Republic underwent a deep transformationtransformation

The population of small landowners The population of small landowners dwindled while the population of landless dwindled while the population of landless citizens and slaves skyrocketed citizens and slaves skyrocketed


The wars during this period took a huge The wars during this period took a huge toll on the small landowners toll on the small landowners

The elites, who profited the most from the The elites, who profited the most from the wars, bought out most of the land, causing wars, bought out most of the land, causing the small landowners to become part of the small landowners to become part of the growing urban poorthe growing urban poor

This process is called This process is called latifundialatifundia This theory is under debateThis theory is under debate


Because Rome’s territory stayed the same Because Rome’s territory stayed the same while the population doubled in size, the while the population doubled in size, the land was divided up into too many small land was divided up into too many small pieces which could not support familiespieces which could not support families

Much of that land was sold to the wealthy Much of that land was sold to the wealthy eliteselites

Also, because of the higher population Also, because of the higher population density, epidemics became more severedensity, epidemics became more severe


There was much inflation between 150 There was much inflation between 150 and 50 BCEand 50 BCE

There was an increase in industry, trade There was an increase in industry, trade and urbanizationand urbanization

People were coming from rural areas to People were coming from rural areas to cities for economic opportunity cities for economic opportunity

Elite Dynamics (During Stagflation)Elite Dynamics (During Stagflation)

The number of elites during the 2The number of elites during the 2ndnd century century BCE increased along with their BCE increased along with their consumption levelsconsumption levels

The entire senatorial class increased its The entire senatorial class increased its cost of livingcost of living

The amount of wealth they had increased The amount of wealth they had increased tremendouslytremendously

The gap between rich and poor grew The gap between rich and poor grew largerlarger

Intra-elite Competion (During Stagflation)Intra-elite Competion (During Stagflation)

21 families dominated 80% of the Senate 21 families dominated 80% of the Senate during these yearsduring these years

Sometimes the position of Senator was Sometimes the position of Senator was continued on from grandfather to father continued on from grandfather to father and even down to sonand even down to son

As the number of possible senators As the number of possible senators increased, intra-elite competition for increased, intra-elite competition for Senatorial positions also increasedSenatorial positions also increased

The position was passed from father to The position was passed from father to son less frequentlyson less frequently

State Finances (During Stagflation)State Finances (During Stagflation)

From 146-91BCE, the state finances were From 146-91BCE, the state finances were fairly healthyfairly healthy

After that the denarius was debased to After that the denarius was debased to 95% silver95% silver

By 89 the treasury was empty and the By 89 the treasury was empty and the money shortage continued through the money shortage continued through the rest of the centuryrest of the century

Increasing Social Pressure (During Stagflation)Increasing Social Pressure (During Stagflation)

Both upper and lower classes were Both upper and lower classes were growing discontentgrowing discontent

As intra-elite competition grew, state As intra-elite competition grew, state finances stagnatedfinances stagnated

There were no more profitable places to There were no more profitable places to conquerconquer

Eventually this all culminated in a full state Eventually this all culminated in a full state collapsecollapse

Late Republican CrisisLate Republican Crisis

The first evidence of decentralization was The first evidence of decentralization was slave revolts which began in 138 BCEslave revolts which began in 138 BCE

The slave revolts were met and stopped The slave revolts were met and stopped by a unified elite classby a unified elite class

In 133 BCE Tiberius Gracchus tried to In 133 BCE Tiberius Gracchus tried to alleviate some of the problems by alleviate some of the problems by distributing land among landless citizens, distributing land among landless citizens, but he was murdered along with 300 of his but he was murdered along with 300 of his supporterssupporters


Tiberius Gracchus’s death split the elite Tiberius Gracchus’s death split the elite class and eventually led to civil warclass and eventually led to civil war

His brother was killed a short while later His brother was killed a short while later after he tried to promote his brother’s after he tried to promote his brother’s plansplans

After their deaths, there was a short period After their deaths, there was a short period of stabilityof stability

The stability did not last long because of The stability did not last long because of the intense intra-elite competitionthe intense intra-elite competition


During the 60’s and 50’s there was During the 60’s and 50’s there was relatively no civil warrelatively no civil war

The territory expanded with the conquests The territory expanded with the conquests of Gaul and Asia Minorof Gaul and Asia Minor

The state’s finances were still fragile The state’s finances were still fragile The last period of civil war lasted from 49-The last period of civil war lasted from 49-

31 BCE31 BCE The Republican Cycle ends in 27 BCE The Republican Cycle ends in 27 BCE

with the establishment of the principatewith the establishment of the principate

End of Disintegrative TrendEnd of Disintegrative Trend

The period after Tiberius Gracchus’s death The period after Tiberius Gracchus’s death was the decentralization of Romewas the decentralization of Rome

This was due to elite overproductionThis was due to elite overproduction


Civil wars had three affects on societyCivil wars had three affects on society Up to one half of elites were killed, thereby Up to one half of elites were killed, thereby

solving the elite overproduction problemsolving the elite overproduction problem Reproductive rates were lowered because of Reproductive rates were lowered because of

abortions and infanticideabortions and infanticide There was an inflation of honorsThere was an inflation of honors


Many elites chose to be content with their Many elites chose to be content with their status and did not strive for senatorial status and did not strive for senatorial positionspositions

By the end of the civil war period, Romans By the end of the civil war period, Romans had a strong desire for peacehad a strong desire for peace

ConclusionConclusion

The Roman Republican Cycle is different The Roman Republican Cycle is different from other secular cycles because of its from other secular cycles because of its huge territorial expansionhuge territorial expansion

THE ENDTHE END

the roman republican cycle (350-30 bce) by megan nickel

Documents

bce slide

population dynamics

bce population

cycle slide

majority of population

population density

elite dynamics elites

social structure