About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 134. Chapters: Alchemy, Almoner, Archimime, Arendator, Baby farming, Badger (person), Balatro, Barber surgeon, Bear-leader, Bestiarii, Between maid, Biritch, Bobbin boy, Book peddler, Breaker boy, Broomsquire, Bullocky, Burlak, Cabin boy, Cancellarii, Castellan, Chamberlain (office), Chapmen, Chopchurch, Coachman, Coarb, Colportage, Court dwarf, Cuirassier, Cup-bearer, Dog whipper, Drysalter, Dyachok, Dyak (clerk), Engage, Expressman, Fendersmith, Gladiator, Glimmer man, Gong farmer, Groom of the Stole, Groom of the Stool, Gungnyeo, Harquebusier, Haruspex, Hayward (profession), Heavy infantry, Herb Strewer, High-reeve, Hiwi (volunteer), Hofmeister (office), Human computer, Hurrying, Iceman (occupation), Ice cutting, Jester, Khapper, Knocker-up, Lady's companion, Lamplighter, Lamp trimmer, Leech collector, Legionary, Limner, Link-boy, Matagi, Mudlark, Nursemaid, Onna bugeisha, Pevchy dyak, Podyachy, Poormaster, Portreeve, Postilion, Powder monkey, Privateer, Publican, Rag-picker, Reeve (England), Resident (title), Rhapsode, Roman censor, Rover (ice hockey), Rower woman, Rynda, Samurai, Sanggung, Sbiten, Scribe, Scutelnic, Seneschal, Skomorokh, Soda jerk, Sugar-baker, Taffeltackare, Teamster, Tea lady, Telegraphist, Toad doctors, Tosher, Troubadour, Uinyeo, Vogt. Excerpt: A gladiator (Latin: , "swordsman," from, "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the arena. Most were despised as slaves, schooled under harsh conditions, socially marginalized, and segregated even in death. Irrespective of their origin, gladiators offered spectators an example of Rome's martial ethics and, in fighting or dying well, they could inspire admiration and popular acclaim. They were celebrated in high and low art, and their value as entertainers was commemorated in precious and commonplace objects throughout the Roman world. The origin of gladiatorial combat is open to debate. There is evidence of it in funeral rites during the Punic Wars of the 3rd century BCE, and thereafter it rapidly became an essential feature of politics and social life in the Roman world. Its popularity led to its use in ever more lavish and costly games. The games reached their peak between the 1st century BCE and the 2nd century CE, and they finally declined during the early 5th century after the adoption of Christianity as state church of the Roman Empire in 380, although beast hunts (venationes) continued into the 6th century. Early literary sources seldom agree on the origins of gladiators and the gladiator games. In the late 1st century BC, Nicolaus of Damascus believed they were Etruscan. A generation later, Livy wrote that they were first held in 310 BC by the Campanians in celebration of their victory over the Samnites. Long after the games had ceased, the 7th century AD writer Isidore of Seville derived Latin lanista (manager of gladiators) from the Etruscan word for "executioner," and the title of Charon (an official who accompanied the dead from the Roman gladiatorial arena) from Charun, psychopomp of the Etruscan underwo
