Famous Men of Rome · Ch. XVII · Unit 4: The end of the Republic
23. The Gracchi
Goal: Your child can tell who the Gracchi were, what Cornelia called her jewels, and why the brothers fought for land for the poor.
You'll need
- The book, open to this chapter
- Paper and colored pencils
- Your timeline strip (see the tips at the top)
What's in the book
Chapter XVII: Cornelia, daughter of Scipio Africanus, calls her sons Tiberius and Caius "my jewels." Grown up, the brothers take the side of the poor in the quarrel over public land. Tiberius becomes tribune and passes a fair land law, but is killed in a riot by angry nobles. Caius takes his place, and dies in 121 B.C.
The lesson, step by step
Set the scene
SayRome is now rich and powerful, but the rich are getting richer and many poor soldiers have no farms. This part of the book tells how the Republic began to come apart.
Read the chapter
Read Chapter XVII aloud. It begins:
Between the second and third Punic wars there lived in Rome two brothers named Tiberius and Caius Gracchus, commonly called the Gracchi.
Tell it back
Prompts:
- What did Cornelia say when the rich lady showed off her jewels?
- What was public land, and who was getting it?
- What law did Tiberius pass?
- What happened to the two brothers?
Talk it over
Read Cornelia's answer:
These are my jewels.
Ask: What did she mean? What makes something precious?
Ask: The nobles said Tiberius wanted to be king. Why might they say that, even if it was not true?
Remember it
SayGracchi is the plural of Gracchus. Add to the timeline: "121 B.C. Death of Caius Gracchus."
Extra (optional)
Draw Cornelia with her arms around her two boys, and the rich lady with her jewel box.
Tip
Both brothers die violently in this chapter. The book keeps it short; you can too.
Answers to the book's problems
Cornelia meant her sons were her treasure, worth more than any jewels. Public land was land Rome took in war; it was supposed to be shared among all citizens, but the nobles took it and had slaves farm it. The law let each noble keep five hundred acres, and two hundred and fifty more for each son, and divided the rest among the poor. The nobles spread the story to turn the people against Tiberius.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.