Spartacus: Gladiator's War

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Spartacus Spartacus, trained as a gladiator, led the historic uprising known as Gladiator’s War. Though they had beaten the Roman armies many times, still failed in the end after being trapped in Lucania. However, Spartacus's epic fight for freedom has been an everlasting legend. Ancient Rome had many spectacular buildings, some of which still remain standing today. As we admire its civilization left behind, we must realize that Rome's glory was established largely by the hands of countless slaves. And one of them, Spartacus, began to stand up. Spartacus, born in Thrace, was actually not a slave by birth. According to a popular account, he once served in the Roman army as an auxiliary. For some unknown reasons, he deserted the army but was captured and sold into slavery, eventually purchased by Lentulus Batiatus and trained at his gladiatorial school in Capua. With the dream of becoming a free man, in 73 BC, he escaped together with other 70 or so gladiators, seizing the knives and a wagon full of weapons, and took refuge on Mount Vesuvius, where he was joined by large numbers of escaped slaves. His chief aides were gladiators from Gaul, named Crixus and Oenomaus. After defeating two forces of legionary cohorts, he wanted to lead his men across the Alps to flee Italy, but the Gauls and Germans, led by Crixus, wanted to stay and plunder, thus getting separated from Spartacus. In 72 BC, Spartacus had raised about 70,000 slaves. The Senate, alarmed, finally sent Publicola and Lentulus against the rebels. The separated Gauls and Germans were defeated by Publicola, and Crixus was killed. Spartacus defeated these two consuls. To…show more content…
The Last Generation of the Roman Republic. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1974. Kebric, Robert B. Roman People. Mountain View: Mayfield, 1993. Gary Edward Forsythe. “Spartacus.” Ancient Rome. University of Chicago. 20 Nov. 2007
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