La guerra de Espartaco

The Spartacus War is the extraordinary story of the most famous slave rebellion of the ancient world, the fascinating true story behind a legend that for two thousand years has inspired novelists, filmmakers, and revolutionaries. Starting with only seventy-four men, a gladiator named Spartacus instigated a rebellion against Rome and, at the head of an army of 60,000 soldiers, controlled the countryside of southern Italy and challenged the established power. A charismatic leader, Spartacus used religion to gain support, and, as a former Roman soldier, proved to be an excellent fighter. He defeated nine Roman armies and held Rome at bay for two years before being defeated. After his final battle, six thousand of his followers were taken prisoner and crucified along the main road south of Rome. Spartacus was defeated by the Roman general Crassus, who had learned how to crush an insurgency. But part of the blame for their ultimate failure lay with the rebels themselves. Their army was enormous and often undisciplined; the different ethnic groups that made it up frequently argued over its leadership.