Customer Reviews

Gladiators

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This book provides a very good short introduction that covers the topic in about 160 pages (about 2 and a half to three hours of reading). Despite its short length it answers all the major questions surrounding the topic. This includes the typical backgrounds of these men, training, how they were viewed by Roman society (same status as actors and prostitutes), Roman cultural and historical roots of the institution, the historical development of the institution, how these events were typically held and Roman fears (and the actual dangers) surrounding the gladiators. All these topics are covered by a leading professor of Roman history who adds his considerable knowledge of the subject and sources of antiquity to the subject. There are recent books on the topic (i.e., "Gladiators and Caesars: The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome") but few cover the institution from as many angles and as well as Dr. Grant's book does.