The Gladiator is an icon of Roman culture, of sports economy, and of brave and brutal combat. This title in the Conquerors and Combatants series reveals the importance of gladiators as cultural heroes, enslaved athletes who were vital to the economy, and as political actors whose victories and sacrifices both entertained and subdued the Roman population. Illustrations, photos, and artifacts complement details about the gladiators’ lives, fighting styles, revolts, and political impacts. In Gladiators readers discover who gladiators were, how they shaped their society, and why they remain glorified icons of combat and culture.