When we think of ancient Rome, Julius Caesar, the Colosseum, and gladiators come to mind. There’s no denying that the Roman Empire, which spanned from 753 BC to 476 AD, was an iconic era of ancient history. Ancient Rome’s influence can be seen across many centuries, even shaping the Western world today.
From pet lions to violent chariot races, Roman society was full of surprises. Prepare to throw out everything you thought you knew about ancient Rome because we’re about to reveal what life was really like.
Gladiators Were Trained to Die
The life of a gladiator revolved around entertaining crowds and emerging victorious. Gladiatorial combat was as much about the spectacle as it was about survival, so gladiators were trained not only in combat skills, but also in the fine art of delivering and receiving the fatal blow.
While not all fights resulted in death, some gladiators did lose their lives in the arena. As the popularity of gladiator fighting grew throughout the Roman period, the fights became more brutal. In the 3rd Century, the mortality rate was around 25% of gladiator fighters.
Slaves Could Buy Their Freedom
Slavery had a long and complicated history in the ancient world. One way that Roman slavery differed from other cultures was that they had the concept of Manumission—meaning slaves were able to be freed.
Some Roman slave owners just freed their slaves outright, while others allowed them to pay for their own freedom using any money they’d saved as gifts. The prospect of potential freedom encouraged slaves to be hardworking and obedient, but the process was complicated. Some slaves never earned enough to buy their freedom and some after being freed still found the stigma of slavery hard to overcome.
