Historical Background For SpartacusBy: Barbra F. McManus
and
Daily Life in the Roman City
By: Gregory S. Aldrete
In 73 B.C., a massive breakout occurred from a gladiator school located in Capua. Somewhere near to 70 gladiators escaped from this prison school while slaughtering all Roman soldiers inside. By the end of the year 73 B.C., what had originally been planned as a massive slave escape plan had turned into a full-scale war against The Roman Republic. This entire revolt was orchestrated by one man, Spartacus. Spartacus was a free Thracian man who was sold into slavery after he deserted the Roman Legion. After pillaging the Roman countryside for almost a year, Spartacus had an army of gladiators, barbarians, and regular slaves reaching 70,000. When Rome responded with an army, Spartacus was able to defeat the legions of Rome in several key battles before reaching the Alps. However, Instead of escaping Roman grasp by crossing the Alps, Spartacus continued plundering at his army's request.
In 72 B.C., Rome responded again by sending two more armies led by Gellius Publicola and Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. Spartacus was able to defeat these two armies although one of his old barbarian armies who initially told Spartacus to keep plundering was defeated. Rome, disgusted by the defeat of their legions elected Marcus Licinius Crassus to lead six new legions to destroy Spartacus at all costs. Eventually, Spartacus was cornered at the heal of Italy by Crassus's armies. In order to escape this threat, Spartacus organized a deal with pirates in order to escape. However, Spartacus couldn't trust the pirates because they abandoned him. In 71 B.C., Spartacus and his army met with Crassus and his in a major battle in which Spartacus lost and apparently was killed in. The rest of the army was crucified on the Appian Way. Later on, the rest of Spartacus's army was captured by Pompey who took all the credit was the ending of the rebellion. Even today, this still remains one of the greatest revolts of all time.
In 72 B.C., Rome responded again by sending two more armies led by Gellius Publicola and Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. Spartacus was able to defeat these two armies although one of his old barbarian armies who initially told Spartacus to keep plundering was defeated. Rome, disgusted by the defeat of their legions elected Marcus Licinius Crassus to lead six new legions to destroy Spartacus at all costs. Eventually, Spartacus was cornered at the heal of Italy by Crassus's armies. In order to escape this threat, Spartacus organized a deal with pirates in order to escape. However, Spartacus couldn't trust the pirates because they abandoned him. In 71 B.C., Spartacus and his army met with Crassus and his in a major battle in which Spartacus lost and apparently was killed in. The rest of the army was crucified on the Appian Way. Later on, the rest of Spartacus's army was captured by Pompey who took all the credit was the ending of the rebellion. Even today, this still remains one of the greatest revolts of all time.
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