Gladiators were mostly slaves and ex-soldiers, but some actually volunteered to fight for ancient Rome's entertainment. Gladiators went to special schools to acquire the skills needed to best opponents and survive to fight another day. This absorbing book gives detailed descriptions of weapons, armor, rules of the arena, and different--often gruesome--gladiatorial events. Roman history comes alive in photographs of the Colosseum and ancient artifacts, as well as in famous paintings and instructive illustrations. Thankfully, this brutal practice is a piece of the past, but much can be learned about Roman culture through its study.