As time goes by, nations change. Different leaders come to power, politics change, wealth and land are acquired and ultimately one wonders how it all changed. This series of changes is visible in the ancient Roman republic during its last century. After much chaos between unpopular politicians and new laws, some individuals entered the government and turned it toward conquest and personal gain. Civil wars and class conflicts broke out in Rome due to aristocratic senators and ambitious generals, eventually leading to the end of the republic. Rome desperately needed reforms, but the means by which they were implemented ultimately did not work. They needed reforms because, through conquest and expansion, the rich became too powerful. After the Punic Wars, farmers' lands were torn to shreds, so they left or became laborers. The rich then got their land, turned it into cash crop farms, and put them to work. This destroyed the family farms that previously supported Rome and made the rich more powerful. To help the peasants, Tiberius Gracchus attempted to implement land reform. This plan was not popular with the wealthier Romans, so it was vetoed twice. He then gained support from his supporters to remove an opposing platform, which violated the constitution. After that, he announced that he would seek a second term as tribune, which violated tradition. He and his supporters ended up being killed by a Senate mob. Because of Tiberius, some politicians began to rely on the popularity of the people, as Tiberius was extremely supported by the lower classes. The next tribune who followed this path was Gaius Gracchus. He received enormous support and reclaimed land for veterans. However, it also p... middle of paper ...... in fact, this time is considered the heyday of Rome. He replaced the Senate with loyal individuals of different backgrounds, replacing the aristocratic senators of before. He "intended to reduce inefficiency and corruption, to eliminate the threat to peace and order caused by ambitious individuals, and to reduce the distinction between Romans and Italians, senators and horsemen." (Craig, 180) He even inspired art and poetry. In this way, it seemed that the Romans had solved their problems by ending the republic. Thus, the problems of civil unrest and war, caused by ambitious generals and overly powerful aristocrats, were eventually resolved by the introduction of a monarchy under Augustus. Although this resulted in the end of the republic, Rome changed for the better. This shows that change is not always a bad thing and can lead to progression, creating a nation that ends up better than it once was..