Title: What is the effects of the punic wars upon the roman people? - Answers
Headings: What is the effects of the punic wars upon the roman people
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What is the effects of the punic wars upon the roman people?
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Content: This led to the split in Roman politics between the Optimates (who defended the interests of the land holders) and the Populares (who favored land reform). The general Gaius Marius, in 107 BC, when Rome needed more troops to fight a barbarian invasion, came up with an idea to fix both the land and soldier problem. He allowed men with no property into the army, something that was previously restricted (it was thought that only landholders would fight bravely because they would want to protect their land). In return for military service, he promised them a land pension. To a large degree the plan worked, except that the soldiers became more loyal to Marius, the man who was going to give them the land, than they were to the State, which had failed them. This became a constant theme in late Republican politics, the result being that time and time again, generals would march on Rome and force the senate to make them dictator (Marius did so, as did Sulla and Julius Caesar ). The Roman armies became almost like personal armies, and Civil Wars were constant in the late Republic. Caesar would attempt to solve some these problems, but it was Augustus who provided a solution by essentially dismantling the Roman Republic and replacing it was an absolutist monarchy. The Optimates faction of the Senate (Pompey, Cato, Cicero) was pretty much wiped out in the civil wars, and some land reform was accomplished. The power of individual generals was subordinated to that of the Emperor, and the soldiers had to take loyalty oaths to the Emperor.