Without the love of entertainment and games the Romans took pride in, the football games America watches might not have been created.  Rome had many outdoor stadiums like the Coliseum and Circus Maximus, almost like Fenway Park or Gillette Stadium.  If Rome had not focused on entertainment, civilizations today would have been less revolved around sports and games.  In ancient Rome, people enjoyed Circus Maximus, the gladiator fights in the Coliseum, and plays that were generally hosted at amphitheaters.  The Romans had a significant impact on modern society because its entertainment is a basis to the sports and entertainment we enjoy today.

First, Circus Maximus played a big role in today’s games because it is almost like NASCAR or the Indy 500.  Before the race began, a Pompa, or a colorful parade, would pass through the stadium.  The parade started with the director in a purple toga, and then followed public officials, priests, charioteers, and patricians.  This exciting parade is like a pre-game event and the chariot racing would follow.  Chariots would have to complete 7 laps, or 2.5 miles, while avoiding racers trying to crash into them.  If the rider fell off, he would have to forfeit the race.  Almost like baseball jerseys teams wear today, charioteers would wear different colored shirts to designate what team they rode for.  Circus Maximus held approximately 150,000 people and would normally be filled up.  This was a big sense of fun for Romans’, but they also enjoyed other events that involved gladiators and animals fighting until the death.

As the coliseum opened in 80AD, a new type of Roman entertainment started to become so popular, over 4,000 lions were killed.  This entertainment was a battle between either two people or one person and animals.  The gladiators were minorities, for example, criminals, prisoners, slaves, and a select few were payed volunteers.  Gladiator fights were related to the WWF and Ultimate fighting people can see on television today.  This event impacted the modern society because it brought showed how exciting fighting and wrestling can be to watch.  Hundreds of lions or animals would be caged below the arena and brought up when a battle was about to start.  Trapdoors would lead these blood thirsty lions to the stadium floor where the gladiator would be.  Using his techniques and wits, fighters would skillfully kill off every animal coming above or would have no choice but to be fed to the lion.  In addition, the coliseum was also used to reenact naval battles by using aqueducts to flood the arena.  Ships would be brought in and would show the battle as it would have looked like.  Romans knew how to enhance about every form of entertainment, including the theaters and arts.

Amphitheatrum, meaning, “Seeing all sides”, was a Roman origin.  Theater shows would be held in outdoor oval shaped structures called amphitheaters with seats encompassing three-quarters of the building.  Below the amphitheater was a basement where animals, scenery, and props were kept.  Identical to drama today, modern societies have adopted Roman entertainment greatly and enjoy it the same.  In addition, the Romans would have morals woven into their playwrights, basically like the folk tales read today.  It is true that modern societies adopt their own cultures and create new customs; however, Rome influenced modern nations affectively in the entertainment category.

In conclusion, Rome had a significant impact on modern society its entertainment is a basis to the sports and games we enjoy today.  The Romans worked out many activities that are almost the same as the ones people play today.  Without the Romans’ love for entertainment, modern nations would not be where they are today.