When Marcus Aurelius passed away on March 17, 180 A.D it marked the ending to an era that has been called the golden ages of the Roman Empire. A great historian once wrote, "If a man were called upon to fix in the history of the world when the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed for the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus. " Commudus was the son of Marcus Aurelius and was said to be, "a greater curse to the Romans than any pestilence or crime " Commudus was a very greedy Emperor, he wanted Rome to be ren...

• Word Count: 2601
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

Gladiatorial contests hold a central place in our perception of Roman behavior. They were also a big influence on how Romans themselves ordered their lives. Attending the games was one of the practices that went with being a Roman. The Etruscans who introduced this type of contest in the sixth cent...

• Word Count: 3227
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School