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The origin of gladiators is not well known. We have speculations and random guesses. What we do know is that men would sometimes fight one another to claim wealth. The first recorded story dates back to 264 BC when two sons had their slaves fight one another in a cattle market. The winner would claim all of their father's wealth. It became so widely popular that wealthy people were betting on their slaves in their own markets. It got to be so extreme that the law had to begin regulating the matches so the elite didn't go bankrupt.

Julius Caesar enjoyed watching men fight to the death. After his death the games would burst into life! The people thought the matches would make the Gods happy thus having them all the time.

There were a couple of ways in which one would become a gladiator. First, you were a slave. If you were a slave you had no choice than do what was asked of you. Second, you were a criminal. Criminals could sometimes gain their freedom if they were able to show their worth in the arena. Most of the time these criminals were sent into the arena as execution. They were never given any weapons and many times had to fight animals. The third way of becoming a gladiator was just wanting to. Men and women could join if they promised to devote their lives to it. They would not only train hard, but have to submit to a form of slavery where beatings and lashing were common.

The criminals and slaves did not always mind the life of a gladiator. They were treated very good despite the occasional lashing. There were three square meals a day and if they were still alive in three years they could earn their freedom. Not only were they fed well, but they also had excellent medical care. Many were able to make money as well with endorsements and purses.

It was the Emperors who really took interest in the fights. They would watch and sometimes participate themselves. Commodus was recorded to have fought in the arena over 1,000 times. It was a way for the emperor to prove his immortality as well as show his people that the Romans could defend their people.

The first arenas were wooden establishments that were made out of wood. These amphitheaters were round and able to hold a lot of people. In the center was a large dirt pit where the men would fight. These amphitheaters were a great idea, but the wood never held and many fell. By the time the Roman fires started, all these amphitheaters went up into smoke. By AD 80, the theaters were built by stone and were called coliseums.

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