•Gladiators were volunteers or slaves who fought in an arena against animals and each other. Most gladiator battles were held in the coliseum. The citizens were divided by class,and which row they sat in. Women at the top then slaves, free men, and closest the senators and important people. The Gladiators were important because they were like the soap opera characters. They were dramatic, fluid, and always let the crowd participate. These are all things that a good gladiator would do . Because the crowd always decides who dies.