EntertainmentEmpire

=__Entertainment in the Empire__=

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=Gladiatorial Games= ====The gladiatorial games were an all day free event that was provided by the rich upper classes. Thousands of spectators would huddle together into a stadium, to watch the battles. The gladiators were outfitted with different sets of weapons, each with there own strengths and weaknesses, in order to make the fights more interesting. The most common form of combat in the arena was that of man on man. Man on ma n was fought until death or inability to continue. Many times the gladiators were pitted against starved animals. Prisoners of war, slaves and criminals were often force d to fight in these games. The criminals were not armed as well as the others, because of this they are pretty much given the death sentence by being sent there. Much of the people in the upper classes disproved of this public expression of death and violence and wanted the games canceled, but the games continued despite their protests. (Gladiators, The British Museum / Gladiators". PBS / Payne, Robert, __Ancient Rome__ pg 251-56)==== A gladiator helmet =Chariot Races= == ====The chariot races were another all day privately funded event. It would have up to fifteen chariots racing on a track at one time. The first person to make it seven times around the track was the winner. There were no rules in these races so people could do anything to seal their victory. The chariots were light weight in order to be able to go as fact as possible, subsequently they were fragile and often broke, therefore killing or seriously wounding the driver. These games were held in a circus. The biggest circus is in Rome, it is called the Circus Maximus. Un-like the gladiator fights the chariots were divided into fore teams; Blue, Green, Red, and White. Fans were very supportive of their teams; this dedication is similar to the fans of football, of soccer teams today. (Chariot-racing in ancient Rome, The British Museum / ** Chariot Races **, PBS.)====

Terracotta plaque with a chariot-racing scene

=Theater = ====Theater was the most educational and traditional of the three. The Romans adopted their theater from the Greeks. The plays were held in amphitheaters, but unlike the Greeks they were built on level ground. The Romans preferred Comedy over Drama. The plays were usually presented during celebrations. The actors were all male slaves, that meant that they would have to play role of women too. To do this the slaves wore masks, wigs, and different colored cloth to symbolize who they were. For example white masks symbolized a female and brown masks symbolized a males. (Roman Entertainment, SPQR)====

Roman Theater

The Romans had a very diverse taste for entertainment; they had intelligent and classy plays and also a desire to see fast pace races, and bloody battles of people and animals in the arena.
=__ Works Cited __ =

"Chariot-racing in ancient Rome". The British Museum. Tuesday, December 2 . "Gladiators". PBS. Tuesday, December 2 . "Gladiators". The British Museum. Tuesday, December 2 . Payne, Robert. __Ancient Rome__. Canada: American Heritage Press, 1970. "Roman Entertainment". SPQR. Wednesday, December 3 .
 * "Chariot races ** ". PBS. Tuesday, December 2 .

Pictures
"Gladiators". The British Museum. Thursday,December <[|http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/online_tours/rome/gladiators][| /bronze_gladiators_helmet.aspx]>. "Chariot-racing in ancient Rome". The British Museum. Tuesday, December 2 <[|http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/online_tours/rome/chariot- racing_in_ancient_rome/chariot-racing_in_ancient_rome.aspx]>. "Alexanderia, Egypt". Anniebee's. Wednesday, December 3 .