Life of a Gladiator

Learn about Roman gladiators and Spartacus' revolt! Engaging worksheet for 6th graders.

Life of a Gladiator #1 What does Seneca say happens to him after watching a gladiator match? Give 4 examples Life of a Gladiator #2 How does Seneca describe what he sees at the gladiator games? Give 4 examples Life of a Gladiator #3 What does Seneca mean when he says, "The whole business needs fire and steel to urge men on?" Two sentences. Life of a Gladiator #4 Seneca describes attending the gladiator games as a "catch 22." Why is this? What does it mean? 1. First, define a catch-22 (you may google, you may NOT copy and paste)2. Explain why attending is an example of a catch 22. Spartacus Why did Spartacus become a gladiator? He was a volunteer He was a deserter from the army He was born a slave and sold to a ludus He was a prisoner-of-war When did Spartacus' revolt begin? 73 AD 17 AD 31 BC 73 BC How did the rebels escape from Mt. Vesuvius? Posing corpses as decoy guards and sneaking away Starving the Romans into submission Lowering themselves down ropes fashioned from vines Taking advantage of a volcanic eruption How large could Spartacus' army have become? 120,000 60,000 20,000 100,000 Which Roman commander finally defeated Spartacus and his army? Lucullus Crassus Glaber Pompey People have compared modern-day obsession with sports with the Roman fascination with gladiators. What do you think of this comparison? Spartacus' rebellion launched the Third Servile War, which was the last major slave revolt in Rome's history even though the Roman empire would last until AD 476. Why do you think there were no further slave wars after 73 BC? We have no sources for Spartacus' rebellion (or the Third Servile War) that are written from a slave perspective. What problems does this create for learning about the war? Identify: Use the word bank to identify each description. Key Word Description Appian Road where 6,000 were crucified Mt. Vesuvius Spartacus and his army fled to this place. Gladiator Spartacus was forced to fight as one of these. Slavery Spartacus was placed in this when he fled the army. Slaves People who joined Spartacus in his revolt. Pompey Along with Crassus, defeated Spartacus and his army. Crassus Led Roman soldiers against Spartacus and his army in northern Italy. Repelled Spartacus and his gladiators did this down the side of Mt. Vesuvius. Which event occurred first in Spartacus' life? He became a gladiator He joined the army He became a slave He led a slave revolt Which of the following is not true about Spartacus' life as a gladiator? He chose to become a gladiator after leaving the army He was forced to become a gladiator after escaping from the army. He was forced to train constantly to become a great fighter. He fought many battles in front of an audience. What were Crassus and Pompey given for defeating Spartacus and his army? New palaces Roles as consuls Roles as dictators Large amounts of money Why did Claudius Glaber's plan mainly fail? Spartacus was informed they were coming by a traitor. Spartacus and his army were better fighters. Spartacus and his army snuck and attacked Glaber's army Spartacus outnumbered his army greatly.