Download The Roman Republic Biography SPARTACUS WHY HE MADE

The Roman Republic Biography
SPARTACUS
WHY HE MADE HISTORY Spartacus was
a gladiator in Roman times. He was also the
leader in an ancient Italian slave revolt.
VOCABULARY
nomad a member of a
people or tribe who
wander from place to
place
c. ?–71 BC
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.
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.