Christopher Silverio
Chat with our AI personalities
They more than likely did have African gladiators as the gladiators were recruited from all over the empire.
Over 5000+ Gladiators won there freedom
They would scatter them by hand over the fields after they had been plowed by oxen.
It is thought that the gladiators began their tradition of fighting as a commemoration of a victory of the people of the Italian area of Campania over the Samnites. This "celebration" was a reenactment of the battle with realistic consequences.
They did change. The first use of gladiators was at funerals, but it became so popular that it eventually became larger with a wider audience. Large arenas were built to hold games, there were training schools, and men who were taken alive in wars became gladiators. It was a big business for the wealthy of Rome to own or have an investment in a school. At it's peak gladiators had sea battles and fought wild animals as well as each other. Bets were made on who would win and some gladiators won fame and freedom ( though not many).