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Name
Class
Date
Biography
The Roman Republic
S PARTACUS
c. ?–71 BC
WHY HE MADE HISTORY Spartacus was
a gladiator in Roman times. He was also the
leader in an ancient Italian slave revolt.
As you read the biography below, think about
how Spartacus brave behavior helped him fight
the powerful Romans.
Spartacus (
SPAHR-tuh-kuhs)
was born in Thrace,
which is located in the northeastern part of Greece.
Little is known about the early life of Spartacus,
but he may have been a nomad. Spartacus served
in the Roman army, but seems to have left the army
to form a bandit group. Spartacus led the group on
raids of their own.
Eventually Spartacus was captured by the
Romans. The Romans made him a slave and
trained him to become a gladiator.
Roman gladiators were forced to fight to
entertain crowds of spectators. Gladiators fought
one another or wild animals in an arena. People of
Rome would come to watch the fights.
In 73 BC, Spartacus encouraged other gladiators
to revolt against the treatment they received as
slaves. This revolt is known as the Third Servile
War. Spartacus and his men fought and defeated the
Roman soldiers at the town of Capua in southern
Italy. Spartacus and his army of slaves moved north,
destroyed the land as they went, and relocated to
Mount Vesuvius. It was there that Spartacus
organized more than 70,000 slaves to fight Rome.
© Bettmann/CORBIS
VOCABULARY
nomad a member of a
people or tribe who
wander from place to
place
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
4
The Roman Republic
Name
Class
Date
Biography
Spartacus, continued
In 72 BC, Spartacus led his army back into
southern Italy for revenge and war. His army
fought the Roman forces and defeated them. The
slave rebels gained control and took over parts of
southern Italy.
In the following year, 71 BC, the rebels divided
into two groups. Rome defeated one group in Italy,
but the second group triumphed again over the
Romans. This victory lasted only briefly and the
Romans finally defeated the last of the rebel army
in Lucania. Spartacus himself died in this battle in
71 BC.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. For what was Spartacus most known?
2. Analysis Why do you think the gladiators were enslaved to fight for
entertainment?
ACTIVITY
Think about what you have read and learned about Spartacus. Prepare
an epitaph for him on a separate sheet of paper.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
5
The Roman Republic
Answer Key
The Roman Republic
Vocabulary Builder
Section 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Biography Scipio
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Hannibal came to Africa to meet Scipio,
True
True
True
True
True
True
True
True
and was defeated there.
2. After being charged with allegations of
misconduct in public affairs, Scipio and
his family lost influence on Rome.
ACTIVITY
Answers will vary.
Biography Cornelia
Vocabulary Builder
Section 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Cornelia did not dress like other
forum
veto
magistrates
checks and balances
consuls
Latin
Senate
noblewomen did to display their wealth;
Cornelia wrote and was constantly
educating herself.
2. Cornelia may not have wanted to
remarry because she wanted to keep the
memory of her husband Tiberius alive,
and preferred to educate herself and her
children.
Vocabulary Builder
Section 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
ACTIVITY
Answers will vary.
Spartacus
Gaius Marius
legions
Hannibal
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Punic Wars
Literature Romulus
and Remus
CALL OUT BOXES
1. The brothers grew up in a cave with
wolves.
Biography Spartacus
2. Answers will vary, but Numitor might
have thought Faustulus would be upset
at the thought of losing the sons he had
raised, so Numitor did not want to say
anything until he was sure of the boys’
identities.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Spartacus was known for organizing a
slave rebellion against the Romans.
2. The gladiators may have been forced
to fight for entertainment because the
Romans enjoyed going to the arena to
witness battles and fights. The slaves did
not have a choice because they were slaves.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
1. next to the Tiber River; because that is
where the twins were found by the wolves
2. Answers will vary, but a possible response
may be that Remus may become jealous.
3. Answers will vary.
ACTIVITY
Students’ epitaphs will vary.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
32
The Roman Republic