Before the time period of 133BC, the Roman Army symbolised power and corruption for whomever held the army, as they essentially held the state. The Senate ran virtually unopposed, as it was the body of government, it was the legislature, executive and judiciary, all within one. This meant that they had ultimate control in Rome, however the power stemmed their vast territorial expansion, which resulted in exploitation of lands, achieved by their control over the Roman army. This could only be achieved through because of the unequalled strength of the Roman army at that time, as suggested by Polybius, Polybius (n.d.) The Rise of the Roman Empire, : Penguins Classic. "The order of battle used by the Roman army is very difficult to break through, since it allows every man to fight both individually and collectively; the effect is to offer a formation that can present a front in any direction, since the maniples that are nearest to the point where danger threatens wheels in order to meet it.” However approaching the time period of 133BC – 70BC, known as the Crises of the Roman Republic, saw a change in the role of the army, as the Senate was no longer able to dismiss any reforms that endangered their exclusive political power and economic advantages, when Tribune Tiberius Gracchus secure the agrarian reform by forming an opposing party, a democratic party known as Populares, he was later murdered by his senatorial opponents.
