Question

Given the problems experienced by small farmers and the lower classes in Rome as a result of the wars of expansion, why did Rome continue the wars? Why didn’t populist leaders like the Gracchi suggest an end to them?

a) Rome aimed to consolidate power, disregarding citizen welfare.
b) Expansion offered opportunities for economic prosperity.
c) The wars created social division, preventing united opposition.
d) Populist leaders focused on civic reforms rather than war cessation.

Answer 1

Given the problems experienced by small farmers and the lower classes in Rome as a result of the wars of expansion, Rome continued the wars due to economic opportunities and social divisions. Populist leaders like the Gracchi focused on civic reforms rather than ending the wars.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the problems experienced by small farmers and the lower classes in Rome as a result of the wars of expansion, there were several reasons why Rome continued the wars despite the negative consequences.

One reason was that expansion offered opportunities for economic prosperity. The elites in Rome were able to benefit from the economic arrangements of conquest, which fueled their desire to continue the wars.

Another reason was that the wars created social division, preventing united opposition. The conflicts led to the rise of different factions within the Roman political class, such as the populares and the optimates, who had different priorities and goals.

Furthermore, populist leaders like the Gracchi focused more on civic reforms rather than war cessation. They sought political support from discontented groups in Roman society and aimed to address the problems through political and social reforms.