Sleepy History - Spartacus

Episode Date: July 12, 2026

✨Sleepy History is written and narrated by humans. ✨ Narrated By: Simon Mattacks Written By: Jo Steer Trace the history of Spartacus, the legendary Thracian warrior and formerly enslaved gladiator, who led a revolt and went into battle against the armies of Rome. Includes mentions of: War, Politics, Death, Slavery, and Violence #History #Sleep #Spartacus #Sparta #ancienthistory #battle #podcast About Sleepy History Explore history's most intriguing stories, people, places, events, and mysteries, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. If you struggle to fall asleep and you have a curious mind, Sleepy History is the perfect bedtime companion. Our stories will gently grasp your attention, pulling your mind away from any racing thoughts, making room for the soothing music and calming narration to guide you into a peaceful sleep. Want to enjoy Sleepy History ad-free? Start your 7-day free trial of Sleepy History Premium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sleepyhistory.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have feedback or an episode request? Let us know at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠slumberstudios.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.slumberstudios.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is Sleepy History. Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To listen, ad-free, and support the show, check out our premium feed. This episode is brought to you by Accenture. When your advertising operations fall out of sync, everything else follows. Spotify and Accenture are working together to reinvent the rhythm of ad sales, using automation, analytics, and smarter workflows to simplify campaign delivery and access better data across the business. The result? Less time spent on operations,

more time connecting brands with the moments and fandoms that matter most. Learn more at Accenture.com slash Spotify. If you want a $3,000 a month payday for life, what would you feel free to do? Maybe take a long weekend, every weekend, or try a bunch of new hobbies. Would you feel free to upgrade and listen ad-free? Don't worry. We get it. Every $20 ticket could win you $3,000 a month for life and supports life-saving cancer research at the Princess Margaret. Feel free to buy your payday for life ticket today. Raffle number 155-2194. Please play responsibly. Whether life serves you an ace or an unexpected backhand, the high-protein yogurt, Oikos Pro, is there to feed your strength and help you turn every challenge into a smash. Oikos Pro helps build strong muscles and

support muscle recovery with high protein and contains no added sugar, because true strength isn't about being able to take the hits. It's about being able to bounce back. Oikos Pro. Feed your strength. Visit oikos.ca for more details. Of all the ancient Romans whose names have endured, the emperors, philosophers, great statesmen and generals, one stands out, Spartacus,

the enslaved man who caused Rome to tremble. You might be most familiar with the storied rebel as he's been depicted on television and in books and movies. But how much of his story is truth or fiction? And what really happened to this enslaved man turned gladiator? Tonight, we'll explore the true story of Spartacus and the cause for which he was willing to give his life. So just relax and let your mind draw.

as we explore the sleepy history of Spartacus. It's 73 BCE, and members of the Senate in ancient Rome are discussing the city's business amidst palatial surroundings. Toga-clad politicians stand on floors of white marble, going over the details of wars and rebellion. The Republic is embroiled in multiple conflicts. There's the Satorian War on the Iberian Peninsula, or Hispania, as the Romans know it. A civil war challenging a former Roman statesman, the conflict is now in its seventh year.

Meanwhile, in Asia Minor, or modern-day Turkey, Mithridates the 6th poses a new threat to Rome. The ruler of the Pontic Kingdom has an army of 300,000, and hours of 3,000. allies stretching across two continents. This year, his forces have swept across the Spanish provinces, forcing the Senate to dispatch the consuls at the head of large legions. And now, today, there's word from Capua, southern Italy. A group of around 70 enslaved people

have escaped from a gladiator school, or Ludus, gaining numbers and weapons on their way to Mount Vesuvius. Considering the severity of the other threats, Rome faces, we might forgive the Senate for being a little blasé, for quickly and dismissively deciding to send in a preter with an army or militia or citizen soldiers. But it is a decision that they'll come to regret, along with many others that follow later.

That's because the group they underestimate are led by Spartacus, along with two enslaved Gallic men named Crixus and Enumaeus. Spartacus, for one, will come to be remembered by history as the slave who took on Rome. Much of what we know about Spartacus today comes from two classical historians, Plutarch and Appian. Both penned their accounts in the first century CE, a century and a half after the period they wrote about. As is often the way, with history long past, we must take what we can from the most credible sources. Alongside this, we form educated assumptions within the context of what we know about ancient Rome.

Let's try this now, beginning in 103 BCE, where Spartacus was born near the Strumer River, in modern-day Bulgaria, which was then known as Thrace. The Romans thought the Thracians barbaric and unsophisticated, though they clearly respected their skill on the battlefield, often employing them as mercenaries for Rome. In the past, they'd rebelled alongside the Macedonians and proven fairly troublesome to the legions of the Republic. But one battle at a time, they'd been gradually defeated, and many Thracians had been captured and enslaved. Plutarch describes Spartacus as a warrior of nomadic stock, which some take to imply he was from the Thracian Midey tribe. His wife was reportedly captured alongside him and was a prophetess of the Midey in southwestern Bulgaria. He's described as more Greek than Thracian by Plutarch, one who possesses culture superior to his fortune. He calls him a man of great courage and strength and a shrewd thinker who shows excellent judgment.

Appian agrees that Spartacus was a Thracian, telling us that he fought for the Roman army. However, it's unclear how the mercenary came to become a prisoner of the Romans, whether he was caught deserting or upset someone important by carrying out raids or defying his commanders. Whatever happened, he became enslaved, like many others who'd fought against. the Romans. In a hierarchical society, enslaved people were right at the bottom. They were treated like the possessions of those who bought them. However, it should be noted that people enslaved in Rome did have their own set of rights and laws protecting them, which differentiates the system from more modern forms of slavery. The Romans used enslaved people in nearly every person.

profession. They were accountants, librarians, chefs, and entertainers. The unskilled were tasked with manual work, maybe ploughing the fields or working in the mines. Those who look strong might be bought by a Lanista, the owner of a Ludus or gladiator school. It seems that this is what happened to Spartacus. The Thracian was purchased by a man named Nias Cornelius Lentilus Batia, whom Plutarch calls Antelus Bataitas. He was the owner of the gladiator school in Capua, Campania. This region in southern Italy is believed by many to be the birthplace of gladiatorial combat. Images on tombs dating from the 4th century BCE suggest that the practice had been ongoing for centuries. Though it was still relatively new, in terms of Rome's lengthy history, it had already changed shape as a form of entertainment.

In their earliest form, matches were limited to funerals and took place on the stage of the local cattle market. Performances were a way of enacting funeral rights for the deceased, commemorating them while entertaining the crowd. They were also a way to showcase wealth and status, which is why they quickly grew in size and scale. Three matches became 30, held over a month rather than a day, as Romans sought to outdo the funerary games of their predecessors. By the first century BCE, when Spartacus was a gladiator, the games had grown exponentially. No longer restricted to funerals, they took place at the main plaza and were a key part of the state-sponsored Ludi. The public games were a grand affair and ran in conjunction with religious festivals. They were held in honour of Roman gods and goddesses.

and had music, food, and all kinds of entertainment. It's difficult to overstate the popularity of the Ludi, which were free to enter and a public holiday. To the Senate, they were a means of keeping the masses happy and maintaining peace in the fragile republic. Ambitious politicians and those already elected would use the Ludi to win votes and favor, The grander the games, the more memorable and entertaining, the better the host's reputation

might be with the public. Because of this, Alanista-like Bataitas would have wielded a sizable amount of power. These gladiators would have brought him much support from the people, which in turn brought wealth and political sway. Now, we know very little about how Spartacus performed in his matches, but we might assume he had some skill because he survived. In the early days of this ancient entertainment, gladiatorial matches often resulted in death. Equally, he might have been saved from execution, having lost a match but entertained the crowds.

The official in attendance, called the editor, would gauge the crowd's reaction before signaling a gesture that decided one's fate. More often than not, if the gladiator had the crowd's approval, they would be allowed to live to fight another day. Fighters were distinguished by their weapons and armor, and we know that Spartacus fought as a Mermilo. This title was usually taken up by gladiators from Gaul, but perhaps the Thracians' fighting style was better suited to it. The title means fishman, translated from Latin, and their bronze helmets were topped with a fish fin. They carried a large oval or rectangular shield

known as a scutum, and the gladius sword from which gladiators take their name. Mermiloh were one of the more heavyweight combatants. Their swords alone weighed up to 1.6 kilograms. The rest of their armour was relatively light, however. Likely, Spartacus wore a loincloth and sandals with a belt around his waist. He probably wore leg and arm guards made of cloth and leather. and possibly shoulder guards on his sword-wielding arm. His garb would be in keeping with typical Mermelow armor, which included a Baltius, a leather belt with metal decorations, Manichai or scaled arm guard,

Cassie's Krista, a large helmet with a plume crest or horsehair, Okria or shin guard made of bronze, iron or other metal, and fascii, thick, soft padding. on the legs. It's possible that Spartacus fought in the arena on which the amphitheatre of Capua was later built. This is considered by some to be the world's oldest amphitheatre, and may well have been the model for Rome's famous Coliseum. Some believe that Spartacus would have trained in this arena. This can create a rather glamourized impression. The reality of life for enslaved gladiators like Spartacus was far grittier and unforgiving than Hollywood might portray.

From arriving at the Ludus, men were made to swear an oath, to be burned, beaten, bound or killed by the sword. They promised to obey their master's wishes for the rest of their days, however long that might be. Their owners grew wealthy through their hard work and bloodshed, while the gladiators themselves saw none of these problems. Their living conditions were poor, as were their diets. They were worked relentlessly, often without decency or compassion.

However, it is known that some masters paid gladiators for good fights, and often the crowd would throw money for them into the arena after a good show. It's in this context, in 73 BCE, that Spartacus led the gladiatorial revolt. According to Plutarch, a group of 78 enslaved men armed themselves with utensils from the kitchen or cookhouse. Along the way, they ran into a transport cart of weapons, and so the kitchen knives were dropped and swapped for swords and other objects. From there, they escaped to Mount Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples. They'd gained four. followers along the way, peasants, deserters, enslaved people, and shepherds.

Perhaps some liked the idea of sharing plunder equally, or maybe Spartacus made a speech that inspired them to join. It's a reasonable assumption, as he was the group's leader. However, some sources note the Gauls, Crixus and Onomus, as leaders with power equivalent to Spartacus. Appian, however, names them as subordinate officers, more like lieutenants to Spartacus' general. Nevertheless, it's at this point in the story that we return to the Senate where we first began. You might recall that the politicians weren't overly concerned

and thought a small rebellion of enslaved people could easily be dealt with. They chose Gaius Claudius Glaiber to lead the offensive. He was an unknown preter without any proven experience. To put down the rebellion, he'd lead 3,000 militia members, rather than Roman legionaries. These were citizen soldiers called upon when needed. Glaber and his army went to Mount Vesuvius and cut off their path, hoping to starve the rebels out. Claibor believed it to be the only route down the mountain. The other parts of the slope, being so steep, they were impossible.

You didn't expect the rebels to make mountain vines into ropes and use them to repel down the slopes. Doing just that, Spartacus and his followers surprised the Romans, surrounding their camp, and defeating them with ease. The rebels gained a booty of better armor and weapons. Their spirits and numbers were boosted by the win. But the Senate wasn't phased. They decided they'd just send another unknown preter. this time by the name of Publius Berinius.

Yet again, it was the rebels who would be victorious, defeating one of the Prieta's lieutenants and 2,000 of his armed militia. It was another boost to the group's morale and another treasure trove of armour and weapons. Next, they surprised a second pretter, whom the Senate had sent to support Vrinius. They surprised Cossinius with an attack at his camp, catching the Roman while he was bathing. It said that the rebels eluded the Romans by positioning corpses as decoy guards.

Then they attacked once they had Varenius surrounded, overwhelming his forces and taking the Preta's horse as a symbol of their victory. From here, the gladiades. The leaders roamed the land, raiding and plundering as they went. It took over villages, making new weapons as they did, and gaining new followers each place they went. Their numbers soon swelled to a formidable 70,000, though it seems that on Amos was no longer one of them. His name disappears from the history books around this time.

assume he died in battle. Spartacus and Crixus led a diverse army, which included other gladiators who'd been trained in combat and some veterans of the Roman army. There were Gauls, Thracians, Celts, and Samnites, many former prisoners with a grudge against Rome. Spartacus' army was far from hopeless. Even the enslaved people, while not trained soldiers, were accustomed to manual labor. They were often physically fit, strong, and hardy. No doubt this helped when it came to their training. They were often taught by gladiators, mercenaries or former legionnaires.

Some may have been trained by Spartacus himself, the leader having proven himself as both with a warrior and tactician. It said that the winter of 73 to 72 was dedicated to training and equipping new recruits, and at the same time they expanded their territory, raiding towns across Italy and pillaging what they could. The rebels seem to have split into two groups to do this, one led by Spartacus and another by Crixus. Writers and scholars past and present remain divided as to why this may have been the case. According to Plutarch, it was the result of a disagreement. One group aligned with Spartacus

who wanted to cross the Alps, to escape Roman territory and disband once they were free. Another went with Crixus to keep raiding and looting, emboldened by the United. Emboldened by their victories and greedy for more plunder. Appian, on the other hand, mentions no disagreement and says that Spartacus' goal was always to march on Rome. In this case, splitting the group might have been strategic. After all, two groups could cover more ground than one and force the Romans to fight a war on two fronts. Either way, the rebels split. and by the spring of 72 BCE, they had the Senate's attention. Up until now, Rome's response to the rebellion was closer to policing than a military matter.

This was in part the result of arrogance, but also practicality. The Senate couldn't afford to send troops where they weren't needed, not when they were at war with the Pontic Kingdom. It's also possible that some members of the Senate were concerned about the optics of sending in the army. This in itself was a humiliation, an admission that Mighty Rome had been made to tremble by a rag-tag group of enslaved people and foreigners. By the spring of 72, things had changed. The Senate didn't have the luxury of remaining complacent. After three failed attempts to suppress the revolt,

countless Romans had been killed, including preachers. The rebels had only grown in size and spirit, and were now running wild across the country. Embarrassed or not, the Senate had to admit that the gladiator army posed a serious threat. So, they turned to the Republic's appointed rulers and tasked the two consuls with ending the rebellion. Both Gellius and Claudianus commanded their own legions,

though the size of their armies remain unclear. Estimates fall somewhere between three and six thousand soldiers. The vast majority being infantry, with a few hundred cavalry on horseback. Gellius' force was massively outnumbered when they met Crixus near Mount Gagannas in southeast Italy. A gladiator led a force of 30,000, a group of battle-hardy rebels bolstered by past success. They'd proven impressive when it came to guerrilla warfare, ambushes, raids and minor skirmishes. But open battle was quite different. Ultimately, they were a group of deserters facing off against a consular army.

The Roman army was amongst the best in the world. Still today, they're famed for their discipline, their organization, and battlefield tactics. Despite outnumbering the Romans by more than 20,000, The rebel peasants and shepherds were no match for legionaires. And so it was Gellius and his legion, who would hand the insurgents their first defeat. The rebel army lost two-thirds of its fighters, including Crixus, who'd been at the forefront from the beginning.

It said that Spartacus, upon hearing of the defeat, held funeral games in honor of Crixus and the fallen. 300 Roman soldiers were sacrificed at these games, made to re-enact the battle, but playing the part of the losing rebels. In one sense, this is a demonstration of culture and tradition, but it also highlights the sense of community between the rebels. Gladiators in a ludus,

were known for their camaraderie. Many would form their own familia, a close-knit group who looked after one another. One can only imagine that this camaraderie would be amplified by the unique course of action that the rebels chose together. It was a brotherhood of oppressed and enslaved people, united by their desire to fight back and be free.

Spartacus was likely grieving the loss of his brother-in-arms Crixus, though it doesn't appear to have clouded his judgment. If anything, it seems to have spurred him on and fuelled the fire of more resistance. By this point, Claudianus and the other consular army were north of the rebels, blocking their way. According to Appian, Gellius planned to follow them north, seeking to trap them between the Roman armies.

It was an effective strategy and might well have been successful, had the army made it in time. But whether Gellius misjudged the distance or his troops were slow after battle, it gave Spartacus the time he needed to react. Aware that Gellius was in pursuit, and looking to avoid a war on two fronts, the Spartacan army moved north, where Claudianus posed the most urgent threat. The consul likely underestimated both Spartacus and the number of fighters at his command. He likely assumed a similar force to that of Crixus. But, in fact, Spartacus had at least 10,000 more.

Either for this reason or because he wanted all the credit, Claudianus chose not to wait for Gellius. And, like the many others who misjudged the rebel army, he and his soldiers fought and lost. The Spartan army then turned around, having dealt with one threat and ready to face another. They moved south, defeating Gellius' legion and forcing the consuls to retreat to Rome.

Appian tells us that the consuls regrouped, gathering all remaining troops into a single legion. This legion fought the rebels at the Battle of Pysenum and were decisively defeated for a third and final time. Plutarch's account is a little different. He makes no mention of the battle at Pysenum or the second battle between the insurgents and Gellius.

He notes that Spartacus triumphed over Claudianus, but claims that after this he continued northwards. He defeated a force of 10,000 men, led by the governor of Sysalpine Gaul. There's no way of knowing which account is the right one, and it is possible that both are accurate. The rebels may have defeated the consular armies, as well as the men of Sysalpine Gaul.

Regardless, both writers have the rebels as the victors. The path was clear to move north to freedom. This would only come to pass if Spartacus planned to escape across the Alps. But it seems that the Thracian had another idea in mind. Perhaps Appian was right all along, that the plan had always been to march on Rome, or maybe the death of Crixus had led to a change of heart, and Spartacus looked to avenge his fallen brother,

regardless of the reasons. Spartacus was on the warpath. It said that he ordered the killing of all prisoners, wanting rid of anything that might slow them down. Any materials that weren't deemed essential were set alight so that others couldn't use them. The rebels continued to raid and pillage while they made their way across the region.

This was as much an attempt to embed. embarrass the Republic as it was an opportunity to gather food and resources. The Spartacan army had been formidable before, but now their numbers were at 120,000. Yet, Spartacus questioned whether they really had the skill set to conquer the defenses of a city like Rome. So, instead of marching west into Rome, the rebels went, southwards and took the city of Thuryai. This was a base from which raids were conducted. Men would go out to find bronze and iron, which would be made into weapons and armor in the city. Meanwhile, in Rome, panic was bubbling. What began as a minor uprising in southern Italy was now a civil war in its third year.

people were alarmed by rumors of Spartacus and his rebels, who at any moment might march on the capital. As a testament to this, when it came time for elections, there were very few candidates looking to stand for Prito. Many rightly feared that should they be elected, their first order of business would be to face the rebel army. However, there was one man who didn't share this view. Marcus Lekinius Krasas, the richest man in Rome. It's difficult to gauge his wealth by modern comparisons, but experts believe it's the equivalent of $20 billion today. Plutarch describes Krasas as an ancient profiteer,

noting public calamities were his greatest. source of revenue. He was the kind of man who owned a fire department in which the firefighters were trained to watch a building burn until its owner had offered the right price to save it. He would then buy the property at a dramatically reduced rate, adding it to an already staggering portfolio. Primarily known for his enormous wealth, Krasas was a man with political ambitions. He knew that the man who put down the rebellion would be guaranteed a place in the Senate. So he put himself forward and was voted into service. And Rome looked to Crassus to rid them of the rebels.

The Prieta was given command of six new legions, as well as what remained of those consular armies. Having so much money was certainly advantageous. He was able to use his own personal funds to train and equip his sizable army. At first, it must have seemed like none of this would matter and that Spartacus would defeat Crassus like those before him. That's because the first expedition proved a failure once again when the Legate, Mummius, disobeyed orders.

The plan was for the legate to lead two legions ahead of Crassus and the main army. The other four legions would wait with Crassus at the borders of Piscenum. Crasus would then approach once the legate was in position, by which time they'd have the enemy surrounded. Unfortunately for the Romans, Mumius got cocky. Crassus had given him strict instructions not to engage the Roman. rebels in any small way. But seeing their army, he thought he had the advantage. So he attacked the rebels and was subsequently defeated. Krasus was enraged at the legion's disobedience and

punished the army to bring them back in line. He reintroduced the punishment known as decimation, something thought barbaric even then. Soldiers were split into groups of ten or decades, and drew lots to decide which soldier would be killed. The man who drew the short straw would be executed by his comrades, maybe stoned, clubbed or stabbed to death. It wasn't clear how many soldiers crassers punished, whether it was the legate's two legions or the entire army.

But whether 50 or a thousand were killed by decimation, it seems that his soldiers didn't disobey him again. Krasas' army went on to defeat Spartacus. The Thracian was forced to retreat to southern Italy. Plutarch tells us he'd planned a crossing to Sicily, where he and the rebels could regroup on the island. The pirates he paid to take them across the water sailed off and stole his money.

The Spartan army had to fall back further to the city of Regium on the southern peninsula. Unable to get to Sicily, they were trapped and vulnerable. Krasus must have felt like victory was imminent. Those who'd gone before him might well have attacked, but Krasus, being patient, decided on a siege. He had fortifications built across the region, blocking both the escape route and access to resources. Spartacus responded by splitting the army in two, sending one group ahead to break through the siege.

They did break through, but were quickly defeated. Though, curiously, the victory left Krasis disheartened. It said that the preter had to be the preter. the bodies checked for wounds, and that out of 12,000 rebels killed in the battle, all but two had died facing their opponents. It was clear to Crassus that the rebels could not be broken. They would fight on until the bitter end. In the meantime, Spartacus had initially stayed back, but been pursued into the mountains by the officer Quintus. At some point, the rebels turned around and fought,

defeating Quintus and yet another Rome. This wasn't a disaster as far as Crassus was concerned. He'd weakened the rebel army and had good numbers behind him. He was much more concerned that Nius-Pompeus Magnus, often known as Pompey the Great was on his way to help him, having put an end to the Sertorian War on the Iberian Peninsula. Crassus was greedy for the acclaim and power that would result from single-handedly putting down the revolt.

Not wanting to share the credit, he hurried to meet Spartacus to defeat the Thracian's army before Pompey could arrive. Likely seeing that the end was near, Spartacus actually attempted a truce with Crassus. It was swiftly rejected. And the armies met at Seneca on the banks of the Selle River. Here Spartacus and his rebels fought bravely. But this was to be their final stand. More than 36,000 were killed on the battlefield, and 6,000 more taken as prisoners. Krasus had them crucified along the Appian way, the main road that ran all the way to Rome.

However, Spartacus wasn't amongst them, though this is sometimes depicted in films and other media. All sources agree that he died in battle. Plutarch tells of him catching sight of Krasis and cutting through the ranks to reach the praetor. But that the bodies of two Romans fell on him, and he was subsequently surrounded and killed by many men. Around 5,000 rebels managed to flee the onslaught, but ran into Pompey and were killed by his men. He'd be much celebrated for this,

and his victory in Hispania when he returned to Rome and was made consul. Krasus threw a festival in honor of Hercules, including a banquet that stretched across 10,000 tables. He gifted each family a three-month supply of grain, winning over the public support and being elected as censor. In hindsight, it's interesting that despite all that wealth and power of the Roman elite like Krasas, it is Spartacus, a former. enslaved man who is arguably the more famous. The Thracian's name has endured over millennia.

It's synonymous with courage and the fight for freedom. Although Spartacus was ultimately defeated, his actions sent shockwaves rippling across Rome. Likely from that point on, many masters had in their minds a fear of what might happen should the people they enslaved decided to revolt. In a growing number of Ludi, owners felt obliged to make improvements, or risk another Spartan-style uprising. And what it meant to be a gladiator underwent many changes, becoming a profession by the imperial period, for which many volunteered. The men that fought in the centuries after Spartacus lived in relatively comfortable lodgings and were far better fed. Their training was complemented with sports massage and medical care.

Some even formed unions with spokesmen to voice demands. Whether this was his intention or whether he'd only ever planned to escape and gain his own freedom, Spartacus' actions paved the way for change. Still today, his legacy leaves an inspiring message about what even the most oppressed people can achieve when they band together with a common goal.