You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator!
By Jean Armour Polly,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Educational, but may disturb younger kids.
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What’s It About?
Explore the horrible and short life of a Roman gladiator in A.D. 1. The story begins with your capture by the Romans. You will never see your family again. You are marched 500 miles to be sold as a slave. A wealthy Roman buys you and sends you off to begin your training as a gladiator. Your lessons will teach you to fight in the arena for the entertainment of other Romans. You may be trained in one of more than ten different fighting styles, each with its own weapons and armor. The site follows your every move into your first (will it be your last?) contest before a rambunctious crowd calling for blood. Users can mouse over the illustrations to see dialogue among the characters.
Is It Any Good?
Although the drawings on the site look humorous, the topic is realistically portrayed and might disturb young children. Older kids studying ancient Rome might be interested in a brief swing through this site, although there is little to do except hit the "Next" button to turn the page. There is a handful of links to other Web sites on the same topic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the site's depiction of the harsh realities of life as a Roman gladiator. Does it match the images you may have seen in movies or on TV? Families can also do additional research to learn more about ancient Roman times.
Website Details
- Genre: Educational
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: November 15, 2019
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