Ancient Rome: debunking historical myths

B2
60 min
Free
1

Think about these questions before watching. Share your ideas with a partner.

  1. Think about a historical 'fact' you learned that later turned out to be a myth or a misconception. What was it, and how did you find out the truth?
  2. Why do you think some historical periods, like Ancient Rome or Ancient Egypt, capture the public's imagination more than others?
  3. Beyond what's shown in movies, what aspects of daily life for an ordinary person in the ancient world do you think would be the most challenging?
2

Watch the video carefully. Pay attention to the main ideas and key details.

Video script90 segments · click a timestamp to jump

Are you not entertained?

And this is what you think of us.

O tempora! O mores!

Salvete! Minerva here—

esteemed Roman goddess of reason, wisdom, handicrafts, and war.

It’s come to my attention that many of you have been thinking about Ancient Rome...

a lot.

But how much do you really know?

I’ll be the judge.

Let’s play a little game I like to call duo vera et mendacium!

Or, to the rest of you: two truths and a lie.

Let's meet our three brave contestants.

And let’s show them what they’re playing for!

An all-expense paid cruise aboard one of Caligula’s pleasure barges!

Prepare to be wined and dined on a trip you’ll never forget—

well, you’ll probably forget.

As for the losers...

The die is cast! Prepare to spot the lie!

A. Gladiators had their own guilds.

B. Most gladiatorial fights ended before anyone died.

C. Gladiators were from an enslaved class.

And I thought this was an easy one.

It’s true that from their introduction around the 3rd century BCE,

Roman gladiators were often enslaved or convicted criminals,

but this changed by the 1st century CE.

After the opening of the Colosseum in 80 CE,

freemen and former soldiers began signing up for a life in the arena,

lured by the potential for fame and regular employment.

They even formed their own guilds,

which organized funerals and provided pensions

for gladiators’ families if they were to die.

But it took a lot of time and money to train a gladiator,

so it wouldn’t make any sense to have them fighting to the death—

at least not all the time.

Moving on to fashion:

A. The toga was the cornerstone of daily Roman dress.

B. Many Roman women wore dresses made with Chinese silk.

C. Urine was the primary laundry detergent for Roman clothes.

While male Roman citizens did wear togas,

they were strictly for ceremonial and official events.

And they were worn over clothing, like tunics, never on their own.

That would be indecent.

As indecent as some writers called the flimsy Chinese silk dresses

that became fashionable amongst upper class Roman women

in the 1st century CE.

And finally, the ammonia in urine

does indeed make for an excellent stain-fighting solution,

which is why Roman launderers often placed buckets on street corners

to collect the urine of passersby.

That reminds me, next question!

A. Many Roman homes featured a vomitorium,

a room where people could vomit after overindulging.

B. The Pythagoreans,

who followed the teachings of the Greek mathematician Pythagoras,

embraced a vegetarian diet.

C. A favorite Roman condiment was sauce made from fermented fish guts.

While vomit and vomitoria come from the same root,

meaning “to spew forth,”

a vomitorium is simply a passage through which spectators spewed

from amphitheaters or arenas into the street.

Purging was a common medical treatment,

but it certainly wasn't prescribed to make room for more fish gut sauce.

As for Pythagoras, there were more than three sides to the man,

I’ll have you know.

He was a philosopher, and his followers embraced his belief

that eating animal flesh increased aggressive behavior.

We’re all tied up.

But this last question is sure to separate the true Romano-files

from the Romano-flakes.

A. The city of Rome was sacked twice during the 5th century CE.

B. The last western Roman emperor was Romulus Augustulus.

C. The Roman Empire fell in 476 CE.

Just as I thought!

The very idea that Rome fell is... complicated.

It’s true that by 476 the empire looked very different.

By the 4th century,

it had permanently split into eastern and western halves,

each with its own emperor.

The last emperor in the west, Romulus Augustulus,

was overthrown in 476 CE in a military coup.

But the Germanic general who replaced him didn’t make sweeping changes.

Roman political and cultural life endured, and military conquests continued—

at least until the eastern Emperor Justinian

led a devastating invasion of Italy in the 530s.

In the east, the Roman Empire survived for a thousand years,

becoming what you now call the Byzantine Empire.

That makes contestant number 3 our big winner!

Enjoy the spoils!

As for our losers, better luck next time.

Here's hoping there is one.

3

Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the video.

01According to the video, why was it uncommon for gladiatorial fights to end in death?
Sample answerIt was mainly for economic reasons. The video explains that it took a lot of time and money to train a gladiator, so it wouldn't make financial sense to have them killed frequently.
02What impression does the video give about the use of togas in Roman society?
Sample answerIt suggests that togas were not everyday clothing. They were formal garments worn by male citizens only for special or official occasions, similar to how someone might wear a suit today.
03What was the actual purpose of a vomitorium in an ancient Roman arena?
Sample answerA vomitorium wasn't a room for vomiting. The video clarifies that it was a large passageway designed for crowds to exit the amphitheater quickly, so they would 'spew forth' into the street.
04Why does the video describe the idea that the Roman Empire 'fell' in 476 CE as complicated?
Sample answerBecause it wasn't a sudden end. The empire had already split into eastern and western halves. While the last western emperor was overthrown in 476, Roman culture continued, and the eastern empire survived for another thousand years.
4

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
Contrary to popular belief — used to introduce a statement that corrects a widespread but untrue idea.
Usage note: This is a great phrase to start a sentence when you want to challenge a common myth. For example: 'Contrary to popular belief, gladiators didn't always fight to the death.'
Shed light on — to reveal new information about something, making it easier to understand.
Usage note: Often used with nouns like 'research', 'discoveries', or 'evidence'. For example: 'Recent archaeological finds have shed new light on Roman daily life.'
Take something with a grain of salt — to understand that something might not be completely true or accurate.
Usage note: Use this idiom when discussing historical accounts or sources that could be biased or exaggerated. For example: 'You have to take Hollywood's version of Roman history with a grain of salt.'
A bygone era — a period of time in the distant past.
Usage note: This phrase often has a slightly nostalgic or formal tone. It's a more descriptive way to say 'a long time ago'. For example: 'The toga is a classic symbol of a bygone era.'
Trace something back to — to find the origin of something by following its history.
Usage note: This phrasal verb is perfect for connecting past events or ideas to the present. For example: 'We can trace the roots of many English words back to Latin.'
5

Decide if each statement is true or false. Correct the false ones.

01Gladiators formed their own guilds which provided financial support for their families if they died in the arena.
02The followers of Pythagoras adopted a vegetarian diet primarily for health and medical reasons.
03In the 1st century CE, it was fashionable for some wealthy Roman women to wear dresses made from silk imported from China.
04Before the last western emperor was overthrown, the Roman Empire had already been divided into eastern and western sections.
05The Germanic general who overthrew the last western Roman emperor in 476 CE immediately implemented sweeping changes to Roman political and cultural life.
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.

  1. The video suggests gladiators were like modern sports stars. To what extent do you agree? Considering their social status and the risks involved, is it fair to trace the concept of modern celebrity athletes back to that bygone era?
  2. Contrary to popular belief, the toga wasn't daily wear. Can you think of any traditional clothing, food, or customs from your culture that are often stereotyped or misunderstood by outsiders?
  3. This video uses a game show format to shed light on historical myths. Why do you think entertainment often changes historical facts? Should we take all historical movies and shows with a grain of salt, or do they serve a useful purpose in generating interest in the past?