The Gracchi reform

Wealth changed the Roman society. On one hand huge richness was created, on the other hand many people were poor; the Roman citizens were divided into patricians (rich families) and plebians (poor families)
In 133 b.C Tiberio Gracco was elected tribune, he immediately introduced an agrarian bill: each state owner could not have more then 500 jugeri (Roman measures) of land; the exceeding land should have been given back or leased to poor peasants.
Tiberio was supported by a democratic party, mainly made up of plebians, small peasants, and a part of nobility who wanted to stop the increasing number of slaves in order to foster small land owners. But this plan was impossible to carry out because in that period slavery was reaching his highest peak.
Against Tiberio there were the great landowners who dominated theSenate. Tiberio was killed during a riot together with other 300 people who were thrown into the Tiber. But his plan did not stop, in fact it was continued by his brother Caio Gracco who became tribune in 123 b.C.
He was one of the greatest politicians of Rome, an impassioned and convincing speaker, he realized that the only way to beat the Senate was to gain the support of the cavalry, so he promulgated a law which favoured them. With a second law he lowered the wheat price in order that the poor peasant were not forced to work for the rich to eat and he also passed the agrarian bill of his brother Tiberio.
Caio Gracco did a lot for Rome: he built many roads and founded the colonies where the peasants could lease large pieces of land. Finally he proposed to give citizenship to the Italics. His proposal split up his supporters: many plebeians were against it. At this point the Senators accused Caio of being a tyrant. During a riot he was killed.