Gladiatorial Games
The Emperors believed that holding the gladiatorial games was a good way to keep the people of Ancient Rome happy and satisfied with the how the city was being ruled (Trueman, C., 2000). These shows were free to the public and the government provided free bread – the combination that they believed would keep the unemployed people of Rome happy (Trueman, C., 2000).
This ultimately was extremely successful. The citizens of Rome never questioned the government and barely voiced any unhappiness. They took pleasure in watching the slaves fight and die, because it gave them a sense of power themselves.
Cicero in 50BC wrote, “The wild beast hunts, two a day for five days, are magnificent. There is no denying it. But what pleasure is there in seeing a puny human mangled by a powerful beast or a splendid animal killed with a hunting spear” (Trueman, C., 2000). This is quite contradicting as Cicero is expressing his displeasure in the slaves’ fights. Perhaps because he was more scholarly than regular citizens, he might have recognised the meaning behind the games. However, even to Cicero’s distaste, the Gladiatorial games were successful in completely the purpose they were made for, although making life harder for slaves and in turn causing revolts.
