Could You Survive as a Gladiator in Ancient Rome?

'Could You Survive as a Gladiator in Ancient Rome?'

Being a sports star in ancient Rome could be a deadly business. From gladiatorial duels to chariot racing, it’s hard to imagine risking life and limb in the name of entertainment. In this video, History Hit's Tristan Hughes wanted to find out what it was really like to take part in these brutal sports, so he headed to the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

What were the different types of gladiator? What weapons did gladiators use? How often were gladiators killed in the arena? All of these questions and more are put to historical interpreters and weapons experts Andy Deane and Andrew Balmforth.

But Tristan was also treated to a unique display of Ancient Rome's most popular sport - chariot racing. The circus - rather than the amphitheatre - tended to draw the biggest crowds across the Empire. With the help of horse trainer Mark Atkinson, the History Hit YouTube team was able to take a ride in the sports car of the ancient world.

So which do you think was the ancient world's most dangerous sport?

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