January 1, 404 C.E.: The last known gladiatorial competition is held in Rome, Italy Believe it or not, the ancient Roman practice of pitting professional fighters against one another, wild animals, or condemned criminals for the viewing pleasure of a live audience, is considered one of civilizations earliest forms of social entertainment. The first known gladiatorial competitions were held in Italy in 310 C.E. to impress the public with reenactments of exciting military battles and demonstrations of individual soldiers strengths. Over time, the games evolved into a much more elaborate spectacle. The games were popular with members of all social classes, prompting the construction of a new, larger kind of venue--the amphitheatre, or open air arena--a design still used today. But hold on, not everyone appreciated the gore-filled competitions. Christians objected to the immorality of the viewers who happily observed the violence. Nearing the fall of the Empire, when numerous wars led to an economic recession and Christianity continued to spread, gladiatorial games began to decline. After the last known gladiatorial competition was held on this day in Rome, Italy, audiences turned their attention to theater performances. #gladiators information courtesy of #ArtsEdge #KennedyCenter
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:24:48 +0000
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