The Roman Empire was the pinnacle of society prior to the Middle Ages, and nothing came close to expressing its might, culture, and subjects as the gladiatorial games. Views on such Roman sports being cruel and barbaric are merely superficial as these events were deeply integrated within this ancient empire, representing its ideals. Often these were spectacular battles in awe-inspiring arenas which were themselves an architectural masterpiece of those times. Above all, the games portrayed the glory of success, the satisfaction of which nothing else could give.
             To the Romans, from the Emperor to the commoner, their empire was the epitome of power. These games were showpiece events that displayed the might and glory of victory that Romans hold so close to their hearts, especially so, at a time when war and territorial conquests were getting infrequent. As seen in Gladiator, the sight of a victorious competitor in the arena after a bloody battle brought immense cheering and approval from the fans. Only the best gladiators were deemed appropriate to compete in the Colosseum which greatly raised the games' standard. The replication of these games in the provinces served to highlight the influence these games had and indirectly integrated these towns closer to the central axis of power, Rome (referred to as "the light" in the movie). The battle arenas themselves symbolized power in the architectural sense. The Colosseum was the largest and perhaps most elegantly crafted structure in Rome, and it was only fitting that such a magnificent arena should stage important events such as gladiatorial games. With their obsession with power and glory, it is no wonder that the crowds are fickle enough to change "allegiance" to whichever group of gladiators is winning the battles at the moment as seen in the battle between the charioteers and the slave gladiators in the movie. The sponsor of the Games (usually the Emperor) also showed his overall migh...