The new Shape Books series brings the ancient world to three-dimensional life and reveals the most interesting topics from some of the world's most important empires. Each title is a self-boxed 3-D board book that replicates an iconic structure from an ancient civilization. Page-filling color illustrations and concise text take young readers back in time, where they discover how people lived and what their world looked like. Engaging, interactive and informative, Shape Books are sure to be a hit with curious readers. Gladiators were an important part of ancient Roman civilization. Most gladiators were unwilling slaves and prisoners of war, but some did win their freedom through their exploits in the arena. This book describes the gladiatorial system, the types of gladiators, their weaponry and the animals they fought. Important architectural features of the Colosseum are also explained.