GLADIATORS

Books | Web Sites

Books

For Teachers

As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History, 2nd edition by Jo-Ann Shelton. (Oxford University Press, 1997)
A wide array of documents, from letters to recipes to graffiti, reveals extensive information on the lives of the average Roman.

Daily Life in Ancient Rome: The People and the City at the Height of the Empire by Jerome Carcopino. (Yale University Press, 2003)
A classic account of imperial Rome during the 2nd century A.D. using primary source materials.

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Daily Life, Volume1 edited by Joyce E. Salisbury. (Greenwood Press, 2004)
A comprehensive look at the lives of ordinary people — their clothes, food, culture, customs, beliefs, etc.

Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome by Lesley Adkins and Roy Adkins. (Oxford University Press, 1998)
An overview of the Roman world, illustrated with photographs, maps, and line drawings.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome by Christopher Scarre. (Penguin, 1995)
This book explores the growth of the Roman empire and its legacy.

For Students

Fiction

The Assassins of Rome by Caroline Lawrence. (Roaring Brook, 2002)
The Roman Mysteries series. Flavia and Nubia follow their friend Jonathan on a secret mission to Rome and the Golden House of Emperor Nero.

Atticus of Rome, 30 B.C. by Barry Denenberg. (Scholastic, 2004)
Sold into slavery by Roman soldiers, Atticus uncovers a plot to murder the emperor, and finds his father, now a gladiator.

Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield. (Harcourt, 2002)
Rufus may make mischief, but he is not a robber or defiler of the Temple of Minerva. It's up to his classmates to prove his innocence.

Galen, My Life in Imperial Rome by Marissa Moss. (Silver Whistle, 2002)
This notebook-style book combines fact and fiction in telling the story of a 12-year-old slave.

Rome Antics by David Macaulay. (Houghton Mifflin, 1997)
A homing pigeon provides a bird's eye view of the most famous constructions of the ancient Romans.

See You Later, Gladiator! by Jon Scieszka. (Puffin, 2002)
Can the Trio make it through gladiator school and win in the Coliseum?

The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliffe. (Farrar, 1993)
Two cousins join the Roman army to fight against a cruel British leader. More books by the same author:

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe,

Outcast by Rosemary Sutcliffe.

The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence. (Roaring Brook, 2001)
The Roman Mysteries series. Flavia, a sea captain's daughter, is determined to discover who is killing dogs in first-century Rome.

Nonfiction

The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens and Rome by Peter Connolly and Hazel Dodge. (Oxford University Press, 2000)
A description of everyday life in classical Greece and ancient Rome, illustrated with full-color drawings.

Ancient Rome by Simon James. (DK, 2000)
Eyewitness Reference series. This book provides information about ancient Rome through drawings, maps, photographs, and captions.

Ancient Rome Revealed by Peter Chrisp. (DK, 2003)
Transparent overlays show the inside story of the Roman Empire at its height of power.

Emperors and Gladiators by Anita Ganeri. (Peter Bedrick Books, 2001)
Investigate some of the job opportunities open to the ancient Roman citizens, from soothsayer to vestal virgin.

Gladiator by Richard Watkins. (Houghton Mifflin, 2000)
This book offers an in-depth look at the lives of gladiators.

Gladiator's Secret by John Malam. (Gareth Stevens, 2004)
This fictional story about a young museum volunteer on a fact-finding trip to Europe includes pictures, diagrams, and facts about a gladiator's life.

The Roman Colosseum by Elizabeth Mann. (Mikaya Press, 1998)
A look at ancient Roman civilization as embodied by the Colosseum and its famous games.

The Roman News by Andrew Langley. (Gareth Stevens, 2000)
Presents details of daily life in ancient Rome in a humorous newspaper format.

Spend the Day in Ancient Rome: Projects and Activities That Bring the Past to Life by Linda Honan. (Wiley, 1998)
Ideas for crafts and other activities that give readers a taste of life in Rome, A.D. 125.

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator! Gory Things You'd Rather Not Know by John Malam. (Franklin Watts, 2000)
This light-hearted book offers facts about gladiators with cartoon illustrations.

Poetry

Ancient Rome by Susan Altman and Susan Lechner. (Scholastic, 2001)
Buildings, residents, and activities of ancient Rome are the inspiration for 27 brief poems.

Web Sites

The Gladiator
http://www.ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/gladiators.html
This site, part of the Classics Technology Center, offers free teaching and learning materials created by teachers and students.

Roman Coliseum
http://greatbuildings.com/buildings/Roman_Colosseum.html
A brief look at the Coliseum with photographs, architectural drawings, 3-D models, and historical facts.

The Roman Empire in the First Century
http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/
This companion site to the PBS series offers information, timelines, and classroom resources. Includes a simulation that explores leadership and the difficulties leaders face when making decisions.

Roman Gladiatorial Games
http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/gladiatr/
Created by the Brooklyn College Classics Department, this site offers detailed information about gladiatorial games, gladiators, and emperors.

Secrets of Lost Empires: Roman Bath
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/
This companion site to the PBS series Secrets of Lost Empires offers timelines and classroom resources. Includes detailed information about the famous Baths of Caracalla, a challenge to build a successful Roman aqueduct, and recipes.