This volume investigates the primary source evidence required to reconstruct the political and social history of the Roman Republic between 133 and 70 BC. The authors, A. H. J. Greenidge and A. M. Clay, provide a curated collection of literary, inscriptional, and numismatic evidence to address the lack of a single, continuous ancient narrative for this volatile period. By organizing these disparate fragments, the text serves as a foundational research tool for scholars and students examining the structural decline of the Republic.

Experts and students of classical history frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for the period due to its meticulous organization of primary source fragments. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is designed specifically for those conducting rigorous research into Roman political history.