Gladiatorial combat is a defining image of ancient Rome. From Spartacus’s slave revolt to the true story of Emperor Commodus, from female fighters to the great battles involving hundreds of animals,
this engaging history
explores the world of the Roman arenas. It examines the lives of the prisoners of war, criminals, slaves, and volunteers who became gladiators; their training; and the more than 20 types of gladiator they could become, using different types of weapons.