What was the problem between the rich and poor?The rich people in rome were the patricians who ran the senate. Many of the plebeians were poor and they were unhappy about the situation because most of them were fighting in rome's wars, and some farm land was destroyed because of Hannibal's invasion. So with less farm land they couldn't compete with wealthy romans,that bought land to create latifundia or large farming estates. Deperatly after they sold their land, the farmers went to the city to find a job but jobs were very hard to find. If they were lucky they would get paid low wages. Many people became slaves. With angry people the roman politicians tried to get poor people's vote by providing cheap bread and entertainment. which soon was called "Bread and circuses'
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Why did the army enter politics?Back then the army stayed away from the government affairs. but not until a military leader named Marius became consul in 107 BCE. Previously the soldiers were owners of small farms. But then Marius begun to recruit soldiers from the poor. Which in return he promised them land and wages. He changed roman army by citizen volunteers to professional soldiers. They were motivated by material rewards and they felt loyalty towards the general not the republic. which that became a good reason to be involved in politics, also they needed laws to be passed to get the soldier's promise land. That led to some power struggles witch his army had to face another army with it's general named Sulla. In 82 BCE sulla drove its enemies out of rome and made himself dictator. Over the next 3 yrs he changed the government, weakened the council of plebs and strengthened the senate.
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Juilius Caesar
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