Tristan Hughes

In 73 BC, in a world where human beings were bought, branded and worked to death for profit, one man slipped the chains and set the Roman Republic on fire.

Spartacus began as a Thracian outsider, living on the Roman frontier.

The story goes that he had served as a soldier in the Roman army before he was enslaved and sold to a gladiator school.

He was expected to risk his life for entertainment, nothing more than muscle and blood in the sand.

Instead, he led a daring breakout that turned a handful of desperate fighters into a roaming army, sparking a slave revolt that traversed the length of Italy and perhaps even beyond.

Today, we follow Spartacus up the slopes of Mount Vesuvius as he outsmarts Roman commanders who dismiss him as a mere bandit.

We explore how he shatters consular armies and gathers tens of thousands under his banner.

And what about the motive?

What was driving Spartacus?

Was he simply trying to get his people out of Italy, over the Alps?

Or was he trying to bring the slave system to its knees?

Why did he fight on, win after win, until the Roman noose finally tightened?

Welcome to the Ancients.

I'm Tristan Hughes, your host, and this is the story of Spartacus.

Our guest is the best-selling Roman novelist, Ben Kane.

Ben, always a pleasure.

Welcome back to the show.

Thanks, Tristan.

It's lovely to be here.

And to talk about Spartacus, of all figures, you know, this former gladiator who turns leader of this massive revolt, his name's become immortalized today, one of the most recognized names from the whole of ancient history.