Differences And Similarities Between Football And Gladiators

The Roman Empire existed for approximately 1000 years. During that time, it became a Mecca for scientific development, modern government, and culture. However, the Romans are also credited with the creation of one of the most brutal sports known to man. The Roman sport of choice was the gladiators. In the ruthless game, prisoners and volunteers alike were pitted against each other and wild animals in a fight that often ended in death. Although gladiators do not show many similarities to modern football, the two are actually closer than they appear. Gladiators and football players both consume specialized diets in order to perform. As with many athletes today, gladiators ate high energy meals and drank “sports drinks” (Coleman, 2011; Curry, 2008). Andrew Curry from the Archeological Institute of America said, “gladiators ate…plants…[and] downed vile brews of charred wood or bone ash” (2008). For gladiators the
As what might be expected, not many gladiators lived to the age of retirement; the sport was simply too ruthless (Coleman, 2011). Sadly, the same is true for football. Football players go their entire lives getting their bodies beaten up for money; money being an extremely strong incentive to do such a thing. However, injuries incurred in one’s youth can have long lasting effects on their health. The concussion is one such injury. A concussion can cause traumatic brain injury (Center for Disease Control, 2016). The long term effects of traumatic brain injury are impaired memory, motor skills, and sensation as well as mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and personality changes (Center for Disease Control, 2016). In severe cases, traumatic brain injuries can lead to comas or death (Center for Disease Control, 2016). Suicides among football players have also been attributed to traumatic brain injury (X). Thus, football players, like gladiators, are susceptible to short lives from brutal