Why did rome hold gladiators games?

Answer 1

They had a number of purposes. we should not assume they were put on for the purposes of indulging in violence and bloodlust. Although they may seem that way today, that is very much an implication of modern day values on a very different culture, presupossing that human life has always been regarded highly and that humanitarian ideals have always been the norm. To really understand why these games occupied such a prominent position in Roman society, we need to look beyond our modern day conceptions and in a sense re-create this roman sense of living.

The games in fact served a number of purposes in roman society, including the education of roman values and virtues and even as a means of social control. Since Rome was a higly militaristic society, its citizens valued the art of killing in a way we would simply would find hard to understand. These public executions were a grusome reminder to non-comatants, fellow citizens or subjects, that vengeance would be exacted if they betrayed their country, rebelled or were convicted of serious crimes. so in some sense the games helped preserve order within the city.

Gladiatorial shows were a political theatre, The dramatic performance took place not only in the arena, but also between sections of the audience. Their interaction was part of Roman politics and should be included in any thorough account of roman constitution.

It can also be argued that the games provided a means of distraction for its citizens, allowing citizens to let out their violent impulses and agression within a completely separate social realm.

It may be safe to say then that the popularity of the shows was a by product of war, discipline and death.

Hope this awnsers your question!

Answer 2

Roman Gladiators were usually criminals or something similar that had to battle each other or hungry beasts for their lives. Their purpose or "role" in Roman society was number 1 to be entertainment for the wealthy and also to keep the prison population from getting out of control. Once proven worthy, some were able to remain as guards for important people.

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To fight for the ruler.

Answer 3

For the most part, gladiators were slaves trained to do battle in gladiator camps. Not all gladiator battles took place in Rome, as many large amphitheaters throughout ancient Rome also conducted gladiator fights. They fought each other or fought against wild beasts. Gladiators were used for entertainment. Some lived through enough battles to win their freedom and gain prize money.

In addition to the chance of money, fame and freedom for the individual gladiator, some historians have injected a patriotic element into the gladiatorial combats. This was to show the proletariat both of Rome and of the conquered territories, the superiority of Rome. It was the Roman idea of the combats, the Roman gladiator who prevailed, both over his human opponents and over the animals. Thus Rome prevailed over man and nature. The message was not lost on the conquered.

Answer 4

The gladiatorial games were a tool to win the favor of the crowd. Remember, Rome had a long history and at the beginning of the gladiatorial games, they were given as a funeral memorial. Politicians soon noticed the fervor with which the public took to them, and used them for their political purposes. Eventually they became so expensive that only the emperor could afford to pay for them. During all these stages in the republic, politicians courted the mob by putting on a gladiatorial show in order to reach more people. For example, Julius Caesar gave his famous gladiatorial bout and it certainly helped him to win the favor of the urban mob. Finally the emperors saw the advantage and the danger of the games and took them over. The danger being civil unrest if the games were stopped and a potential usurper gaining favor; the advantage being the esteem and glory of the emperor for sponsoring a good show for his people. It should be noted that gladiatorial games were held in many cities in the Roman Republic & Empire. Rome was not the only place they were held.

Answer 5

The gladiatorial games originated from the Campanians, who lived in the region around Naples, to the south of Rome. In Rome they were first performed only in the private funerals of rich families as a munus (plural, munera), a commemorative duty owed the manes (the souls of deceased loved ones) of a dead person by his sons. They were fights to the death and had a sacrificial function. They gradually developed into more public events. They turned out to be a very popular form of entertainment. Julius Caesar turned them into large scale public games. Augustus formalised the provision of gladiatorial games by the state as a civic and religious duty. The fights stopped to be fights to the death, and the life of losing gladiators was usually spared. Contrary to the image promoted by action movies they were much less gory events and the crowd valued skillful fighting much more than bloodshed. Nevertheless, they were dangerous and death rates were quite high.

Answer 6

The ancient Romans held gladiator games in all parts of the empire. The first society to have gladiators, we have learned from historians was "handed down" to Rome by the Etruscans, who ruled the Italian peninsula before the tribes of the Romans ( there were 35 known Roman tribes). To answer the "WHY" question is this: it became a normal piece of Roman entertainment. In our present society watching men fight to the death as entertainment is hideous and cruel.

Answer 7

They didn't have TV or Video Games back then, so they made their own entertainment. They also didn't have modern sports, so their ideas of entertainment were traditional games and fighting.

Answer 8

for the entertainment of roman citizens.