In ancient Rome, gladiators were slaves, prisoners, or volunteers that would fight in order to entertain royals and the public. Gladiators often became celebrities in the public eye and central to ancient Roman entertainment, just as athletes are today. The Roman Empire was constructed with a strict definition between societal classes, offering different perspectives on the gladiator games. In this lesson, students will examine the different perspectives offered by each class of the Roman Empire. Students will determine if the gladiator games were barbaric, entertaining, or a combination of both according to different perspectives.
Gladiators in Ancient Rome
