Rome's expansion during the period of the Roman Republic led to a socio-political crisis, rather than an ideological one. Rome developed an ideology which saw her as being predestined to conquer, and no one challenged this. The expansion created ample opportunities for enrichment. However, the rich became poor and the poor became poorer. In the late Republic there were attempts at introducing reforms which would help the poor. This was resisted by the aristocracy, which saw them as an infringement of aristocratic privilege. This led to a conflict which sometimes led to violence. It also played a role in the civil wars which brought the Roman Republic down.