The story of Spartacus, the gladiator of the Roman Empire

Personality in history is the subject of many philosophical debates and reflections. Do we create history, or does it lead the actions of people? There are people who are drawn in by the whirlpool of events, and they flow in the stream, submitting to it. Others, on the contrary, do not agree with reality and take fate into their own hands. The embodiment of the latter version is the story of Spartacus, the gladiator who became the leader of the 70,000-strong army.

The history of the gladiator Spartacus began in the wide expanse of Thrace, located in the north-east of the Balkan Peninsula. Rome, pogryazaya in predatory wars, attracted to his army of mercenaries from the barbarians. One of them was Spartacus, descended from a noble family of Thracian warriors. For reasons we did not understand, he deserted the army, but was caught and enslaved. Since Spartacus was a brave, strong warrior, he was sold into a gladiator school, which in Rome was very much. The motley crowd reveled in the contemplation of people who were beating to death.

Gladiators, by and large, were doomed to death. Going out into the arena, each of them knew that he would die himself or kill a friend. Schools of fighters resembled a prison, which provided for severe punishment for all who are against their fate. Save the will was very difficult. And yet Roman history has many facts of riots in such schools. The most powerful movement was the revolt of gladiators under the leadership of Spartacus.

In the school of slaves-fighters in Capua in 74 BC. E. There was an escape of 70 people, which was first perceived as a regular riot. Those who fled had to be seized and roughly punished, so that others could not escape. Who knew then that the story of Spartacus-the gladiator will be the most powerful movement against slavery throughout the Roman Empire and for several years will keep in fear and strain of Roman citizens!

Those who escaped took cover at the top of Vesuvius, an extinct volcano, making outings from there. A detachment of militiamen from Capua was defeated, then the same fate befell a three thousand-strong army from Rome. The insurgents used military cunning and, descending from the mountain on stairs woven from the vine of wild grapes, attacked the enemy's camp from the rear. This brought the rebels arms and glory. Slaves from neighboring estates began to join Spartacus, poor peasants, his camp grew every day. Recruits were armed and trained in military art. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the Senate sent two armies against the slave army under the leadership of both consuls, which showed the highest danger for Rome.

Spartacus proved himself for all time as a great organizer, military leader, strategist. In addition, he understood that it would not be possible to change the situation in Italy itself, it is necessary to go beyond the Apennine peninsula, towards freedom. But not all his colleagues shared this opinion. When the army of the insurgents came to the limits of the Alpine mountains, through which it was possible to leave Italy, a split occurred in it. The 30,000th army, having separated, decided to return to Italy, entered into battle with the government army and was completely defeated. In such a situation, Spartacus, instead of making the transition through the Alps, returns back and smashes the army of the Senate. A new victory, a new triumph, new members join the army of Spartacus, but the position of the rebels with each passing day is becoming increasingly uncertain. Out of the provinces, the acting armies are called in, the Senate is preparing for a serious confrontation. In these conditions, the great gladiator goes to the south in the hope of crossing over to Sicily. But his plans did not materialize. Cornered, Spartacus gives the last battle to government troops. In this battle, he was wounded in the thigh, but continued to fight, kneeling. In an unequal battle, he fell as a hero.

The story of Spartacus - the gladiator, a slave who did not accept his fate - speaks of the strength of the human spirit, which can not be broken. For many centuries, she inspired people to fight for their freedom. Could the story of Spartacus-gladiator be over successfully? If we talk about it as the desire of some people to get freedom outside the Roman Empire, then it was quite feasible. Do not turn Spartacus back from the Alps, part of his troops would have managed to get to the long-awaited freedom. In the struggle with slavery as with the established organization of society, there could be no success, since the prerequisites for the collapse of the slave system had not yet ripened. After all, history has its own laws.