Roman Gladiator Research Paper

Who were the Gladiators and what was their role in Roman Society? History depicts them as murderers, rapists and the dregs of the Roman Empire that were forced to fight. Even if this was the case, were they a necessary part of the Empire wand what effect did the fights have on the Empire? This topic has troubled historians for years without a consensus being reached. The role of the Gladiators and the Gladiatorial games on the Roman Empire directly led to the downfall of civilization and the rise of the Dark Ages, more commonly known as the Middle Ages as a result of the costs, philosophy of the Romans, how the Elites used their power, and the creation of training centers.

When the Games first took off, many of the soldiers were actually volunteers

These centers were under the control of the Empire and run by close, trusted friends of the Emperor and former gladiators. Each student would identify what weapon they fought with the best, and then train with a mentor on that night and day for their fights. Shortly after some of the training centers were established, the gladiators (students) revolted against their mentors and owners and escaped. This led to a period of conflict for the Roman Empire, which now had an insurgency on its hands. While the gladiators were eventually defeated, it led to the Emperor and the Elites instituting changes that had severe effects for the Gladiators. The training centers became more heavily guarded and the gladiator’s weapons were now guarded by Roman Soldier’s.

The role of Gladiatorial Games was an important one and eventuality of Roman society. Based on how the Roman Republic and later, Empire was established, with the importance of glory, and outdoing your ancestor, it simply became a matter of time until the games were established. This idea or philosophy was ingrained in every Roman from the day he was born, especially the Plebians and the Patricians. While the theory and layout of the Roman Republic and the Empire were more thought out than other civilizations of the time or later, it eventually led to their downfall