Not only were the gladiator games a central part of life for the average Roman citizen, but they also played a significant role in the development and maintenance of the Roman empire between 264 BCE and 404 CE. This text explores the fundamentals of the gladiatorial system, with a serious look at the lives of these hardened warriors: delving into their pasts, their everyday struggles, and what it actually took to become a Roman gladiator. It takes a poignant look at some of the best-known warriors in terms modern readers can relate to and understand.