Notes for “History’s Mysteries: The True Story of Gladiators”
NAME_________________________________________________________ DATE________ PERIOD______
1. Where do historians believe that Romans got the idea for Gladiators?
The Etruscans
2. Who were the first Gladiators, and at what events did they fight at?
Military Prisoners, who fought at funerals
3. What does the term Gladiator mean?
Swordsman, one who wields a Gladius
4. What two statements were made about Rome by Gladiator games?
Gladiator games reinforced the Roman ideal of bravery and also the
power of Rome
5. Gladiators held on to hope throughout their training. What did they hope for?
Through success in the arena, they could become accepted members of
society
6. What success did Spartacus have against the Roman Army?
He defeated two Roman Armies sent to destroy him.
7. Marcus Crassus is selected to deal with the Spartacus Rebellion. Where have
we seen Crassus before?
Crassus was the financial backer of Julius Caesar
8. How does Crassus deal with the soldiers who had retreated when fighting
Spartacus?
He has them decimated
9. What warning does Crassus issue to slaves after the defeat of Spartacus?
He crucifies 6000 slaves along the Via Appia
10. How does Julius Caesar use gladiatorial combat to rise to power?
He uses gladiator games to gain the favor of the Plebeians
11. Why are people shocked that Caligula dons the armor of a Gladiator?
Gladiators were considered the lowest of society
12. What were three ways in which Nero persecuted Christians?
Burning at the stake, being fed to beasts, being executed by gladiators
13. What industry develops due to the popularity of Bestiariae Gladiators?
The import of exotic animals from all over the empire
14. What was the role of a Lanista during a gladiatorial battle?
To serve as referee and to make sure that a killing blow wasn’t
delivered
15. What did the Rudis symbolize?
The Rudis symbolized that a gladiator would never have to fight for his
life again; symbolized his freedom
16. Which Roman Emperor entered the arena as a Gladiator? What did the
Roman Historian Cassius Dia say about him?
Commodus. Cassius Dia said that he wasn’t cruel so much as he was
stupid.
17. How many times did Commodus fight in the Colosseum?
Over 700 times
18. What event leads to the banning of official gladiatorial games?
The stoning of a Christian Monk trying to break up a gladiatorial bout.
19. What sports today can be compared to gladiatorial combat?
Professional wrestling, boxing, bull fights