/í*

-€€. THE RoMANS: ,30. - , 250

Fun and Games ._iot races

Wealthy Romans had lots of free time because

they ,-.i,3lo.j.'"""' e
This n

,*j,€
had slaves to do all the work for them. There by the
were to toh
so many slaves working in Rome that many poorer Trident
oppon
Romans could not find jobs. To keep them Éuppy,
the emperor handed out free food and put
on
A young spectacular shows, called ''the games''.
Roman slave

Gladiator shows This Picture

Most gladiators were slaves or criminals, who shows two
types of
were made to fight to entertain the crowds. gladiators.
At the end of a fight, üe spectators decided if
üe loser should live or die. Thousands of
This gladiator
gladiators were killed in this brutal sport. carries a net E most Popular '
ond tridenL
Fights took place in huge stone stadiums,
Fthe games were
called amphitheatres. The biggest of these was r chariot races, wh
the Colosseum in Romg whú held 50,000 re held aí a íacetr-
oeople. Sometimes, the arena was flooded, so Poorer peoPle sit
Women wqtch from
behind this wall. S/oyes or; H a circus. The r;
that gladiators could take part in sea battles.
higher up. stand rigr:
iting to watch but
n8erous/ as driyen
This cutaway picture shows a
sea battle in the Colosseum.
own offand ki]led
a
A huge owninq con be hunq
from these poles to give sháde
'--'""'. i
\-;.ryo\
1*tn3rp"áotá,r.- ]l

The c-:::,
decol:,_::
morb: : :

and s::,::
There :.: :
entrancs, s
people con
UJ and out qui
íL
o
É,
f,
t
llJ The floor ofthe orena Rich Ror-:
is waterProofed with in the be:,-
wood and canvas, at grouna -
 lnternet links:For /inks to Websites where you can frnd out more
about gladiatol ftghting, go to w.usbőrne-quicaini.rci,áÁ

lariot races Pastimes

, /er
and horses As well as 8oin8 to the games,
net]. :]ariot race Romans enioyed relaxing in the
bg the 9 ::
to tongiE
, .*
tíírso/e public parks and gardens. They
d around the played board games and also liked
bodg.
gambling 8ames.
- -,,€*y%*
Board game
{e
coins and dice
for gambling

children had
seesaws, swings, ff§_:É
kites, hoops, bX"
games Were
Thisglú
_j]e
. .hariot races, which
marbles and dolls ffi t
is moreh to play with.
ormed- . c held at a racetrack
,ed a circus. The races were Sometimes,
Sloves ond fortir There are four teams. Drivers weor
stond rlght at* :ling to Watch but Were very they rode
red, blue, green or white to show

_gerous/ as drivers Were oÍlen which team theg belong to. around in
-
]\\,n off and killed. small cams
pulled by
Drama Wooden 8eeSe.
The first Roman plays were dolls
copied from Greek ones and
were quite serious. By the time of
üe emperors, people preferred Mosaic
watching comedies. The shows showing a
child in a
gradually became more and more toy cart
spectacula, with lots of music,
Concrete (a Roman
invention) mokes the dancing and special effects. Some
walls verg strong. actors became so popular that they
were mobbed by their fans.

Ihe stone seots

are supported Important dates
by arches.
753sc The city of Rome is set
up, accordin8 to legend.
-The outide is c,509ec Rome becomes a republic.
decorated with
764ac The Punic Wars start.
marble Pillors
and stotues. l46Bc The Romans destroy
Carthage.
There are 80
entronces, so
49ec Julius Caesar takes
people can get in control of Rome.
ond out guicklg. 27Bc Augustus becomes t}re
first Emperor of Rome.
AD72-80 The Colosseum is built.

Rich Rc-: noll7 The Roman Empire is

in the t:: at its largest.
ot grou.: Roman actors in their costumes *

AD500

191