Gladiators:
A popular sport in Ancient Rome was gladiator fighting. Slaves and gladiator would fight in these.
![Picture](/uploads/2/9/2/9/29295299/454698708.jpg)
Most of the competitors were just slaves who were exceptionally fit or coordinated, too talented to be wasted working in the fields or cleaning sewers.
Others, however, were people who had committed serious crimes and were punished by being forced to join the gladiator league.
Once the competitors were selected, they would be trained in certain areas of combat that suited their physique.
The training centers were owned by private citizens. These centers would be spread throughout the empire, although four were in Rome alone.
The gladiators would practice with non-lethal weapons, probably made of wood. Common weapons included swords, spears, bow and arrows, tridents, daggers, and even lead-weighted darts. Gladiators also used shields to thrust with, and thin leather was allowed, but it wouldn't really stop any real attacks.
Once the gladiators were trained, they were pretty much screwed. Considering that almost all of the gladiator fights were to the death, you had only a 50% chance of survival. If you were a good gladiator, you had better chances, but they were still bad. Sometimes the fights would be rigged, so your chances could be even worse.
Others, however, were people who had committed serious crimes and were punished by being forced to join the gladiator league.
Once the competitors were selected, they would be trained in certain areas of combat that suited their physique.
The training centers were owned by private citizens. These centers would be spread throughout the empire, although four were in Rome alone.
The gladiators would practice with non-lethal weapons, probably made of wood. Common weapons included swords, spears, bow and arrows, tridents, daggers, and even lead-weighted darts. Gladiators also used shields to thrust with, and thin leather was allowed, but it wouldn't really stop any real attacks.
Once the gladiators were trained, they were pretty much screwed. Considering that almost all of the gladiator fights were to the death, you had only a 50% chance of survival. If you were a good gladiator, you had better chances, but they were still bad. Sometimes the fights would be rigged, so your chances could be even worse.