today's episode, we explore how Rome dealt with the so-called "barbarians" who shaped its rise.

From the Greek idea that anyone outside their polis was a barbarian (bar, bar, bar...), to Rome's practical alliances with these tribes, we dive into the myths, wars, and politics that defined ancient history.

Listen to that song we played a clip - Barbaras Rhubarb Bar (feat. Marti Fischer) by Bodo Wartke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkBf0dbs5I&ab_channel=BodoWartke

Links to our other stuff on the interwebs:

https://www.youtube.com/@BroHistory

https://brohistory.substack.com/

https://www.patreon.com/brohistory

#313

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1d:T62e,When you think about ancient gladiators, you likely have a certain vision that comes to mind: slaves forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of bloodthirsty Romans.But much of what we think we know about gladiators is actually wrong.Today on the show, Alexander Mariotti will separate the just-as-fascinating fact from popular-culture-derived fiction when it comes to gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome. Alexander is a historian and an expert on gladiators who's served as a consultant for shows and films like Spartacus and Gladiator II.In our conversation, Alexander explains how gladiatorial games evolved from funeral rites into professional sporting events featuring the greatest superstar athletes and sex symbols of the day. We discuss the different types of gladiators, their rigorous training regimens, why gladiators fought in their underwear, and whether they actually fought to the death. Alexander describes what a day at the Colos

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