133 BCE: politics in a time of challenge and crisis

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    The year 133 is often regarded by both ancient and modern commentators as a violent turning point in Republican political history. It also provides a vivid illustration of the political process in play: the opportunities afforded by a system without a written constitution and the ways the political elite dealt with the challenges invited by this elasticity. The political year began on 10 December 134, with the installation of the new college of tribunes of the plebs. This chapter focuses on the politics of personality; but it would be a mistake to ignore the politics of ideology and the causes which had, according to Roman annals, divided the Roman community since the advent of the Republic. The situation in which the Roman community found itself in the 130s called for strong government. The Roman constituency appreciated the personal element of the spectacle – and, in this case were reawakened to the politics of class
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationA companion to the political culture of the Roman Republic
    EditorsValentina Arena, Jonathan Prag, Andrew Stiles
    Place of PublicationChicester, UK ; Malden, USA
    PublisherWiley-Blackwell, Wiley
    Chapter38
    Pages537-554
    Number of pages18
    ISBN (Electronic)9781119673675, 9781119673651, 9781119673590
    ISBN (Print)9781444339659, 9781119673712
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2022

    Publication series

    NameBlackwell Companions to the Ancient World
    PublisherWiley-Blackwell

    Keywords

    • Politics of ideology
    • Politics of personality
    • Republican political history
    • Roman community
    • Roman constituency

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