the Gracchi brothers

[Fragony]

The land was in shambles because of the Punic wars, but Rome was getting back on it's feet again so no surprise there that people flocked to it. There are some problems with chronologically, but being a man of the people means you are not a man of the elite, was a constant strive between the peoples tribune and the senate and you got to rub them up a little, they were probably as power hungry as the rest of them. Gracchi's story of looking down from that hill unto the destroyed farmland, well he didn't travel that route he couldn't have seen that. I wouldn't rule out that confiscation of property were a necesary evil to keep the grain supply steady and that Gracchi's sought political gain by pretending to be a man of the masses.

[Pannonian]

The land was in shambles because of the Punic wars, but Rome was getting back on it's feet again so no surprise there that people flocked to it. There are some problems with chronologically, but being a man of the people means you are not a man of the elite, was a constant strive between the peoples tribune and the senate and you got to rub them up a little, they were probably as power hungry as the rest of them. Gracchi's story of looking down from that hill unto the destroyed farmland, well he didn't travel that route he couldn't have seen that. I wouldn't rule out that confiscation of property were a necesary evil to keep the grain supply steady and that Gracchi's sought political gain by pretending to be a man of the masses.

The Lex Agraria Sempronia was a Bill with the support of the establishment, or at least one faction of the establishment. Tiberius Gracchus couldn't have pushed a Bill with such extensive powers just on his own. The main driver of the Bill was probably the Princeps Senatus, Appius Claudius Pulcher, his father in law, and the leader of the Claudian faction (opposing the Aemilians). Tiberius was probably the frontman, chosen because he needed the political credit, because he could be a tribune, and because his family had an especial interest in the area. Claudius provided the establishment support, and I suspect, the substantial foundation for the reforms.

[Fragony]

You obviously have looked more into the politics, can't say anything meaningful about that. But there is a lot unclear about the actual economical situation of at least the lands in close proximity of Rome and the actual effects of the so-called (massive?) land-grabbing. Not so sure, land destroyed, people move to town, people need food or they riot, popular movements arise, so need for mass production. That could be exactly what happened, find me a time machine. The Latifundia part is a real theory by the way, the rest is me being bored and liking to talk about Rome.

[ShadesWolf]

Some interesting stuff guys, this is far more interesting than the Greek stuff i have recently studied. Far more creditable texts to look at and info. Thanks for making this thread interesting.