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Spartacus and Gladiators, with Mary Beard

Shownote

Where did gladiatorial combat originate? Who was Spartacus, the legendary gladiator? How did he come to lead the most famous slave revolt in all Roman history? How did the rebellion unfold? And, what was Spartacus’ fate..? In the grand finale of our thr...

Highlights

Gladiators have long captured the imagination, symbolizing both brutality and heroism in the ancient world. In this final episode of a compelling series, Tom Holland sits down with renowned classicist Mary Beard to peel back the layers of myth and history surrounding these fighters, focusing on one of the most legendary figures of all: Spartacus. Their conversation delves into the cultural resonance of gladiatorial combat and the enduring power of rebellion.
03:40
Spartacus's rebellion taps into a universal human fascination with defiance and justice.
09:30
Pirates in the Mediterranean sold people into slavery for profit

Chapters

What makes gladiators—and Spartacus—so captivating to us today?
00:00
Who was Spartacus beyond the legend, and why does his rebellion still resonate?
03:40
How did Rome’s hunger for slaves give rise to an empire built on blood and chains?
06:58

Transcript

Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to The Rest Is History. For weekly bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series, and membership of our much-loved chat community, go to therestishistory.com and join the club. That is therestishistory.com. T...