Bread and Circuses, a very effective form of authority throughout Roman history, were key contributing factors to the end of the Roman republic because they pacified the plebs to a point where they stopped thinking for themselves and allowed the government and politicians to become their lifeline for food, entertainment and the political direction of Rome.
The Roman Bread and Circuses, wildly extravagant and free events, gathered masses of people to enjoy the violent and bloody spectacle of men fighting men and men fighting beasts. Juvenal, a famous Roman satirist, first mentioned the term "Panem et Circensus", which translated means "bread and circuses" (Devillier Donegan Enterprises, 2006) (unknown author, 1990). These events began in 122 …show more content…
Gaius Gracchus, one of the first politicians to realize the authority and power the plebs held, ordered wheat and grain to be sold at half price, at around 200 B.C., to anyone willing to stand in a line once a month at a public grainer. (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). A famous historian Rostovtzeff, states, "the custom of feeding the Roman mob at the cost of the provinces, survived not only Gracchus but the Republic itself.” (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). The politicians would happily risk the stability of the government and republic, to gain support from the public and thus remain in power. Throughout the time of the Bread and Circuses, the number of Romans that applied for the low priced grain grew exponentially. In the beginning, 50,000 Romans stood in line for low-priced wheat(Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). After Gaius Gracchus was murdered by the senate, the low price grain dole still continued. During the time of Sulla, the grain dole was given out to 200,000 Romans (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). The registered citizens received daily two pounds of bread along with free meats, salt, and olive oil (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). These grain doles and free food distribution encouraged the idea that it was not a problem to not have a job or earn money, the government would support you. This hurt the republic in three ways: one was that people did not care who they voted for as long as they continued to get their grain dole; two, it was a very costly program for the government to sponsor; and three, it took away any motivation for people to work, because they knew that the government would provide for them. Eventually, one wealthy politician assumed the entire cost of the program and the people gave their support to him, the person paying for their entertainment and food. Claudius, a politician around 100 B.C, won election to the tribune on a
The Roman Bread and Circuses, wildly extravagant and free events, gathered masses of people to enjoy the violent and bloody spectacle of men fighting men and men fighting beasts. Juvenal, a famous Roman satirist, first mentioned the term "Panem et Circensus", which translated means "bread and circuses" (Devillier Donegan Enterprises, 2006) (unknown author, 1990). These events began in 122 …show more content…
Gaius Gracchus, one of the first politicians to realize the authority and power the plebs held, ordered wheat and grain to be sold at half price, at around 200 B.C., to anyone willing to stand in a line once a month at a public grainer. (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). A famous historian Rostovtzeff, states, "the custom of feeding the Roman mob at the cost of the provinces, survived not only Gracchus but the Republic itself.” (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). The politicians would happily risk the stability of the government and republic, to gain support from the public and thus remain in power. Throughout the time of the Bread and Circuses, the number of Romans that applied for the low priced grain grew exponentially. In the beginning, 50,000 Romans stood in line for low-priced wheat(Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). After Gaius Gracchus was murdered by the senate, the low price grain dole still continued. During the time of Sulla, the grain dole was given out to 200,000 Romans (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). The registered citizens received daily two pounds of bread along with free meats, salt, and olive oil (Henry Hazlitt, 4/41971). These grain doles and free food distribution encouraged the idea that it was not a problem to not have a job or earn money, the government would support you. This hurt the republic in three ways: one was that people did not care who they voted for as long as they continued to get their grain dole; two, it was a very costly program for the government to sponsor; and three, it took away any motivation for people to work, because they knew that the government would provide for them. Eventually, one wealthy politician assumed the entire cost of the program and the people gave their support to him, the person paying for their entertainment and food. Claudius, a politician around 100 B.C, won election to the tribune on a