Produced by Stan Goodman, Ted Garvin, C. Markus and PG Distributed
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1921
It would be scarcely possible for anyone writing on the periodembraced in this volume, to perform his task adequately without makinghimself familiar with Mr. Long's 'History of the Decline of the RomanRepublic' and Mommsen's 'History of Rome.' To do over again (as thoughthe work had never been attempted) what has been done once for allaccurately and well, would be mere prudery of punctiliousness. Butwhile I acknowledge my debt of gratitude to both these eminenthistorians, I must add that for the whole period I have carefullyexamined the original authorities, often coming to conclusions widelydiffering from those of Mr. Long. And I venture to hope that fromthe advantage I have had in being able to compare the works of twowriters, one of whom has well-nigh exhausted the theories as theother has the facts of the subject, I have succeeded in giving a moreconsistent and faithful account of the leaders and legislation of therevolutionary era than has hitherto been written. Certainly therecould be no more instructive commentary on either history than thestudy of the other, for each supplements the other and emphasizesits defects. If Mommsen at times pushes conjecture to the verge ofinvention, as in his account of the junction of the Helvetii andCimbri, Mr. Long, in his dogged determination never to swerve fromfacts to inference, falls into the opposite extreme, resorting tosomewhat Cyclopean architecture in his detestation of stucco. Butmy admiration for his history is but slightly qualified by suchconsiderations, and to any student who may be stimulated by thevolumes of this series to acquire what would virtually amount to anacquaintance first-hand with the narratives of ancient writers, Iwould say 'Read Mr. Long's history.' To do so is to learn not onlyknowledge but a lesson in historical study generally. For the writingsof a man with whom style is not the first object are as refreshing ashis scorn for romancing history is wholesome, and the grave irony withwhich he records its slips amusing.
Previous history of the Roman orders—The Ager Publicus—Previousattempts at agrarian legislation—Roman slavery—The first SlaveWar—The Nobiles, Optimates, Populares, Equites—Classification of thecomponent parts of the Roman State—State of the transmarine provinces
Scipio Aemilianus—Tribunate of Tiberius Gracchus—His agrarianproposals—Wisdom of them—Grievances of the possessors—Octaviusthwarts Gracchus—Conduct of Gracchus defended—His other intendedreforms—He stands again for the tribunate—His motives—His murder
Blossius spared—The law of T. Gracchus carried out—Explanationof Italian opposition to it—Attitude of Scipio Aemilianus—Hismurder—Quaestorship of Caius Gracchus—The Alien Act ofPennus—Flaccus proposes to give the Socii the franchise—Revolt andextirpation of Fregellae—Tribunate of Caius Gracchus—Compared