CHAPTER PROFILES IN HISTORY Spartacus in the Slave Revolt

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CHAPTER PROFILES IN HISTORY

7 Spartacus in the Slave Revolt

The frenzied fans jostled for the best view as the Romans sent to return them to a life of bondage. Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
muscular gladiators marched into the amphithe- With each victory, the slaves looted the fallen
ater. It seemed as if all of Rome had turned out for legionaries of weapons and armor and prepared
the spectacle even though the midday sun beat for the next onslaught of soldiers.
down unmercilessly on the panting crowds. But
who wanted to miss seeing the lions as they lunged Terrified, the Romans dispatched the praetor
against these men armed with the crudest of Clodius and a force of 3,000 to annihilate the
weapons? And besides, even if the gladiators troublesome slaves. Clodius’ force besieged the
killed the beasts, the men would turn on each other gladiators, closing the only pass up the moun-
for the final phase of the fight. And that fight to the tainside. Facing certain starvation on the moun-
death was perhaps what the crowds loved even tain, Spartacus craftily ordered his men to cut
more than the sight of a starving lion feasting on a down the sturdy vines that grew there and fash-
fallen gladiator. ion ladders. Stealthily using the vines along the
steep precipices, all of Spartacus’ men escaped
Today’s games were even more popular than the mountain and attacked the unsuspecting
usual because the gladiators had come from Romans from the rear. Once again, a motley
Lentulus Batiates’ gladiator school in Capua, south- band of slaves had defeated the forces of the
east of Rome. Batiates had a reputation for training Roman Republic.
his slaves in the deadly sport. Seldom did any of his
gladiators show cowardice. And they always And so it went throughout the rest of 73 B.C.
rewarded the crowds with what they wanted most— and 72 B.C. As word of the revolt spread, slaves
bloody combat. As long as the gladiators enter- throughout Italy crept away from their masters to
tained the crowds, no one seemed to care how cruel join the rebels. Almost overnight it seemed,
conditions were at Batiates’ school. After all, gladi- Spartacus had become the leader of 70,000 men
ators were only slaves and convicted criminals, and hungering for revenge and liberty.
masters could treat these slaves as they wished.
The men labored night and day to manufacture
The Beginnings of the Revolt their own weapons and to learn military maneu-
vers that would defeat the legions that they knew
Facing a future of almost certain death, the gladi- the terrified Romans would send. And their labors
ators seemed powerless to resist Batiates and his paid off. Legion after legion of mighty Rome fell
cruel staff. Powerless, that is, until a remarkable before the slaves as Spartacus led his troops
leader—Spartacus, a slave from Thrace— toward the Alps.
emerged in their midst.
Divisions Among the Gladiators
According to the Roman historian Plutarch,
Spartacus was destined for fame. When he was Spartacus wanted to lead his men to freedom out-
first brought to the slave market in Rome, a snake side Italy, but something happened along the way.
coiled itself on his face while he slept—a sure The formerly well-disciplined troops suddenly
omen that Spartacus would hold great power but refused to obey their leader. Flushed by the
would meet a tragic fate. excitement of victories over the Romans, the men
broke away to loot the cities of northern Italy.
Whether Plutarch’s story is true or false, Suddenly Spartacus, with reduced manpower,
Spartacus did indeed rise to great power. Unwilling found his way north blocked by formidable
to meekly submit to the cruelty of Batiates’ school legions. With no place left to turn, Spartacus
any longer, Spartacus led 78 gladiators in a bold ordered his men south.
escape in 73 B.C. The escapees crept through the
city of Capua stealing gladiatorial weapons and For a while the slaves were again unified and
hiking to nearby Vesuvius where they set up camp. defeated more legions. But yet again the slaves
rejected Spartacus as leader and divided. Seizing
Early Successes upon this opportunity, the Roman Crassus sur-
rounded a force of 12,300 slaves and hacked them
Spartacus drilled his men into a superb fighting to death in a fierce battle.
force that defeated legion after legion that the

12 PROFILES IN HISTORY

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Final Defeat The revolt had been crushed. And the slavery
on which Rome so depended continued to play a
As Spartacus’ cause became even bleaker, the role in Roman society as it changed from republic
Romans sent reinforcements. Faced with such to empire.
overwhelming opposition, Spartacus led his men
into a final battle rather than surrender. Surrounded Reviewing Profiles
by Roman soldiers, Spartacus fought bravely.
Mortally wounded, he continued to fight. Finally, On a separate sheet of paper, write the answers to
he collapsed, his body so mutilated by this last the questions below.
combat that it could not even be identified.
1. Interpreting Ideas Why was Spartacus con-
Most of Spartacus’ troops died beside their sidered a hero?
leader. Those who did escape were savagely
hunted down and rounded up. As a warning to 2. Evaluating Ideas Why did Spartacus terrify
other slaves who might revolt, the Romans cruci- the Romans?
fied 6,000 slaves on the Appian Way—the main
highway of Italy—and left the bodies hanging in 3. Analyzing Ideas How do you think the his-
their tortured agony for months. tory of Rome would have been different if
Spartacus had succeeded in crossing the Alps?

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

PROFILES IN HISTORY 13

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proposed a sentence. The jury chose one of the Profiles in History Chapter 9 Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
two proposals.
4. Answers will vary. Students who agree may 1. Things such as the political impact of the
suggest that Socrates chose to die, since he refused wedding, the assessment of Arjumand’s dowry
to compromise on his sentence or escape prison and family, and the time that the court astrologers
when given the chance. Students who disagree deemed favorable, had to be taken into considera-
may suggest that the blame for Socrates’ death tion before Prince Khurram and Arjumand could
should be put on his accusers or the jury who be married.
condemned him.
5. Historians should be cautious concerning the 2. Following Mumtaz Mahal’s death, Shah Jahan
information on Socrates written by Plato and his locked himself in his room for eight days, and
other students because they may have been biased when he emerged, his black hair had turned white.
regarding their former teacher. Jahan’s appearance stunned his courtiers and
advisers.
Profiles in History Chapter 7
3. Mumtaz Mahal’s dying request to her husband
1. Spartacus was considered a hero because he was to build a monument to her that was so
bravely led a revolt of slaves fighting for their perfect and pure that anyone looking at it would
freedom against overwhelming odds. be reduced to tears.

2. The Romans were terrified of Spartacus and his 4. The building of the Taj Mahal could be considered
vast number of slaves because they feared that if an international achievement because artists,
the slaves were victorious, they might turn on the craftworkers, and artisans from all over the known
population of Rome. Also, the Roman economy world took part in its construction. In addition,
depended heavily on slavery, and if the slave precious stones and metals used in the construction
revolt was successful, the Roman economy would of the Taj Mahal came from many different
collapse. countries.

3. Answers will vary. Students may suggest that 5. The Taj Mahal may be called a “dream in marble”
Spartacus and his followers could have set up their because of its breathtaking and magical visual
own country separate from Rome, which might qualities, particularly when sunlight or moonlight
have undermined the Roman Empire. reflect off the marble.

Profiles in History Chapter 8 Profiles in History Chapter 10

1. Justinian had a strong personality, which was seen 1. Duke William of Normandy was angry about
in the type of leadership he provided for his coun- Harold Godwinson’s ascending the throne of
try. He apparently had an autocratic side, which England because originally William was named
was evidenced by the way in which he initially heir to the throne by his cousin Edward the
handled the trouble between the Blues and Greens. Confessor, king of England. Also, Harold had
However, he also had a compromising side, seen previously sworn an oath to William that he would
in his later attempt to reach an agreement with the help him gain the throne.
rebels.
2. Halley’s Comet was the natural phenomenon
2. The Nika Rebellion began over competition seen by people in 1066 and interpreted as an
between the Blues and Greens, two competing rac- omen foretelling great changes.
ing teams. When the competition turned into
full-scale riots between fans, Justinian punished 3. Harold’s victory at Stamford Bridge was due to
the leaders. The fans on both sides demanded par- speed the of Harold’s army, which led to a surprise
don for two of their leaders, and when Justinian attack.
refused, a riot broke out.
4. Harold believed that his claim to the English
3. Constantinople was called the “wonder of the throne was stronger than William’s because Harold
world” because of its great wealth. It could resist was named heir by Edward on his deathbed, and
attackers because taxes and custom duties paid for Harold believed deathbed wishes to be sacred.
ships, soldiers, and peace treaties. This allowed its
power to grow. Constantinople was also a beautiful 5. Answers will vary. Students may suggest that
city with majestic palaces and public buildings, Harold might have won had he been better pre-
and its citizens were able to enjoy many cultural pared, or waited a few days longer in London to
and athletic events. increase the size of his army. They may also add
that he should have warned the troops against the
4. Answers will vary. Students may mention some Norman tactic of false retreat. Students may also
of Justinian’s qualities such as courage, determi- suggest that William’s tactics, such as having his
nation, and the ability to compromise when archers fire high in the air, were the reasons for
necessary. Harold’s defeat.

Profiles in History Chapter 11

1. The longbow originated in Wales.

66 ANSWER KEY PROFILES IN HISTORY