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Many of us have heard of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-spartan-life-was-like/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">unusual practices of Sparta</a>, the war-obsessed, ancient Greek society. Let&#39;s be real: many&nbsp;of us learned them from the notorious 2006&nbsp;film, 300.&nbsp;While the movie, and our history books, highlight some of the more impressive aspects of Spartan society, there are&nbsp;plenty of weird facts about Sparta&nbsp;that seem&nbsp;too extreme to be real.&nbsp;

For example, did you&nbsp;know Spartan&nbsp;teens participated in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/extreme-ancient-sports-that-sound-fake-but-are-true/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">yearly festival of exterminating&nbsp;slaves</a>&nbsp;to quash any thoughts of rebellion? Or that Spartan babies were dunked in wine to test their worthiness to live? Or that women of Sparta shaved their heads and dressed like men on their wedding nights?

So get cozy, grab your sword (if you have one),&nbsp;and read on to dive <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/christopher-mccandless-into-the-wild-true-story/colleen-conroy?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">into the wild</a>&nbsp;traditions of Sparta. Make sure to vote up the facts that seem too outrageous to be real.

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Facts About Sparta That Sound Made Up - But Aren't

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Emily Pogue

People have been living all around the world for literally thousands of years. Here are some of the most interesting things human beings have ever done (that we know about).

Fascinating Ancient History

Explainer

The 6th century boasted many exceptional&nbsp;events, people, and historical contributions. The exception, however, was&nbsp;one year that was particularly burdened with a level of tragedy and strife&nbsp;most historians say surpassed any other moment in history: 536 CE. This was the worst part of the Dark Ages.&nbsp;

Calling the medieval period the &quot;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/reasons-dark-ages-were-not-dark/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">Dark Ages</a>&quot; may seem to be a&nbsp;bit of an exaggeration to the period overall, but scientists and historians recently determined the worst time to be alive was, in fact, during one of these so-called dark years. Across the globe, from Europe to Asia to South America, civilization stalled as people dealt with hardships brought on by horrific natural events.

Plagues, famines, and natural disasters all contributed to the challenges of 536, as did messy political shifts and cultural upheavals. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-life-was-like-in-medieval-castles/shanell-mouland" target="_blank">Living in medieval Europe</a> was anything but easy, and the 6th century appeared&nbsp;exceptionally difficult to survive.&nbsp;Don&#39;t worry, though - about 100 years later <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-did-humans-survive-536-ad-worst-year/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">everything recovered as best it could</a>.

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Historians Agree 536 Was The Worst Year To Be Alive - What Happened?

Reasons 536 CE Was The Worst Year To Be Alive

Melissa Sartore

Ancient History

Whether tucked away between more modern structures built throughout their still thriving cities or standing alone amidst deserted landscapes, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/history-monument-ancient-facts/thomas-west">ancient landmarks</a> have the ability to inspire both excitement and intrigue. As gateways to the past, these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-temple-facts/emily-mast">ancient temples</a> and monuments tell the unique history of civilizations who lived centuries before us - providing archaeological information where recorded written details of events are rarely found.&nbsp;Many of these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/oldest-buildings-in-the-world-still-standing/pierce-nahigyan">surviving ancient buildings</a> and ruins are well-recognized as world travel destinations and backdrops to Hollywood film scenes. Still, while we may easily identify these iconic structures, there are always more elements of new knowledge to uncover. Below are some seriously head-turning facts we just learned about ancient landmarks.&nbsp;

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12 Astonishing Facts We Just Learned About Ancient Landmarks

Surprising Facts About Ancient Landmarks

Facts We Just Learned About Ancient Landmarks

Lauren Glen

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The Roman Empire has captivated audiences for generations, so it comes as no surprise that filmmakers have often turned to this rich and storied past for inspiration. The resulting Roman war movies, often seen through the eyes of a Roman soldier, bring history to life in a grandeur that few other genres can match. This article, chiseled from the dense plaque of the past, is a carefully curated and expertly picked list filled with the best of the best when it comes to Roman Legion movies.Our roster of films presents an admirable gallery of Hollywood's exquisite grasp of the ancient era. They feature the ceaseless spirit of warriors, the electrifying chaos of battles, and the stratified society of one of the most influential civilizations in history. These films are timeless classics that have left an indelible print on the annals of film history, not only for critical acknowledgment but also because of their unwavering popularity among audiences.Movies like Gladiator speak to the grandeur and brutality of Roman life; Spartacus illuminates the tragic defiance of the downtrodden, while Ben-Hur enables us to experience the life course of a man betrayed and condemned. Other films like The Eagle and Centurion offer a unique vantage point of the Roman presence in British lands. Each of these films diligently unravels the tangled threads of history, giving us a taste of life as a Roman soldier during ancient times.To help make this historic journey lighter, we've included streaming options for each movie listed, with direct links to platforms such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount+. Whether you're a cinephile wanting to soak up some Roman history or a history fanatic curious about Hollywood's rendering of the times, this selection is a Roman banquet you won't want to miss.Lastly, remember that your input matters to us. We encourage you to vote for your favorite movies from the list. Become a part of the conversation, weigh in with your thoughts, and make your voice heard. Prepare for a splendid immersion into the world of Roman legions on the silver screen.

The Fall of the Roman Empire

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The Best Roman Legion Movies

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Lists about customs, rituals, and daily life in Ancient Rome and the Roman Republic, which ruled the Mediterranean from 8th Century BC until its spectacular collapse in 476 AD.

Rome If You Want To

History

Ancient Romans loved their sports and entertainment, and the Colosseum put on the grandest games in all of ancient Rome. With its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-roman-gladiator-facts/aaron-edwards">gladiators</a>, interchangeable arenas, exotic animals, and the rare naval reenactment,&nbsp;being a spectator in&nbsp;the Roman Colosseum would have indeed been a spectacle. If you've ever had questions like “how many people could the Colosseum hold?” or “what did Colosseum look like?" this list will help you learn all about the Roman Colosseum.Crowds of 50,000 people, spanning every region and socioeconomic class of the empire, gathered at the stadium to watch shows and get away from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/disgusting-imperial-rome/carly-silver">disgusting life</a> of everyday Rome. They enjoyed food, wine, music, and theatrics in a large venue,&nbsp;all paid for by the emperor himself.&nbsp;At the Colosseum, the audience could munch on chickpeas while waiting for the mid-day execution,&nbsp;watch&nbsp;for lions and other exotic animals released through the arena's hidden trap doors from their cramped seats, or see&nbsp;Roman elites&nbsp;collecting&nbsp;sweat from a gladiator (they thought it was an aphrodisiac). Events held at the Colosseum were&nbsp;so varied and elaborate that&nbsp;onlookers never knew what to expect.

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What It Was Like To Be A Spectator In The Roman Colosseum

What It Was Like to Be a Spectator at the Roman Colosseum

Genevieve Carlton

Alligator wrestling, bull leaping, and carcass polo all sound like made-up sports. And yet people in Central America lined up to watch horsemen grab a headless goat carcass, Seminole Indians wrestled alligators, and ancient Minoans jumped over bulls.

When it comes to extreme historical <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-extreme-sports-list/reference" target="_blank">sports</a>, that&#39;s just the beginning. Venetians brawled with each other to claim control of a bridge, Egyptian fisherman tried to drown each other, and Greek wrestlers broke each other&#39;s bones to win games. In ancient Sparta, teenagers played a &quot;game&quot; called krypteia that involved massacring unarmed slaves, and ancient Mayans had to win their game or be sacrificed to the gods.&nbsp;

Unlike modern sports, where players have to follow rules, many of these extreme ancient sports were no holds barred. Vote up the ancient sports that are absurdly extreme.

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13 Extreme Historical Sports, Ranked By How Made-Up They Sound

13 Extreme Ancient Sports That Sound Made Up But Aren’t

Ancient Americas

Today, monuments in the ancient world, from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-ancient-egyptians-moved-pyramid-blocks/stephanroget">Pyramids of Giza</a> to the Roman Pantheon to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, are some of the world's most popular tourism&nbsp;destinations. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/secret-rooms-in-historical-landmarks/jim-rowley">Historical landmarks</a> like these&nbsp;allow visitors to imagine what life would have been like thousands of years before their time, which is a major part of their appeal.But this is not a modern phenomenon. Ancient peoples flocked to tourist destinations for the same reasons people do today: to be enlightened, entertained, and energized.

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What Tourism Was Like In The Ancient World

Location

Jim Rowley

Many civilizations throughout history have erected enormous buildings and other structures to secure their place in both the present and posterity. Indeed, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historic-landmark-facts/alby-thompson">these landmarks</a> are sometimes the only evidence left of past cultures - mute testaments to their greatness.&nbsp;Throughout the world,<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-monuments-still-standing/pierce-nahigyan"> impressive monuments from antiquity</a> still stand, and they are important not just as archaeological remains, but&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-tourism-facts/jim-rowley">also for tourism.</a> Every year, more fascinating facts emerge from these constructions of stone, brick, and mortar,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-monument-facts/mallory-weiler">shedding important light</a> on the people who produced them, allowing those in the present to gain some insight into the aspirations of those who came before.

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Facts About 14 Ancient Monuments We Can't Believe We're Just Now Learning

Thomas West

From Aphrodite to Zeus, all the Greek gods&nbsp;and goddesses&nbsp;oversaw every aspect of the ancient world from marriages and love to wars and plagues. These Greek deities&nbsp;fill tomes with rich stories of their exploits and affairs. Many stories reveal insight into the human condition while others explain the Earth as it is, even to this day. You might recognize Greek god&nbsp;and goddess&nbsp;names in everyday items such as on a street sign or a character in a book series like&nbsp;Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You can find a connection to Greek mythology gods almost anywhere you look.&nbsp;While they no longer hold as much sway as they did in the days of Athens and Sparta these gods still occupy a significant role in society and&nbsp;pop culture.

The family tree of the gods is varied and extensive but this list covers all 14 gods that were said to occupy Mount Olympus depending on stories and translations. Vote up the Greek gods and goddesses you identify with the most or just happen to like more than the others.

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All The Greek Gods on Mount Olympus

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All Greek Gods, Ranked

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Walk a mile in the sandals, boots, high heels, and huaraches that regular people wore in different places around the world at fascinating points in history.

What Life Was Like

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was at its apex from the second century BC&nbsp;through the second century AD. During the Pax Romana of the first and second centuries AD, Rome benefited&nbsp;from the expansion of its&nbsp;empire, with vast amounts of wealth and diverse cultural&nbsp;influences flooding into its borders.&nbsp;What was culture and life in Ancient Rome like? It had a little bit of everything.&nbsp;The city of Rome was a bustling urban center&nbsp;full of commoners,&nbsp;animals, and politicians - all running into each other on crowded streets, in&nbsp;public buildings, and at any number of sporting events. Life in Ancient Rome was full of excitement, with plenty of opportunities for entertainment and spectacle contributing to the cosmopolitan atmosphere.Living in Ancient Rome was not without challenges, however. The life of a Roman citizen depended on social and economic status. Poverty and noise were just two problems that prompted the government to regulate the difficult conditions within the city, with moderate levels of success for the population.To live in Ancient Rome was like living in any major city, full of pros and cons - but rarely with a dull moment.

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What It Was Like To Live In Ancient Rome During Its Golden Age

What It Was Like In Rome's Golden Age

What Was Life Like In Ancient Rome's Golden Age?

Aliens

Ancient&nbsp;history is filled with impressive human&nbsp;achievements -&nbsp;the Pyramids of Giza, the Mayan Long Count Calendar, beer&nbsp;- or maybe that&#39;s just what &quot;they&quot; want you to think. Since the 1960s, a growing&nbsp;contingent of people believes ancient civilizations were contacted by extraterrestrial beings who provided humanity with the knowledge and skills needed to create civilization. According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/style/ancient-aliens.html" target="_blank">Ancient Astronaut Theory</a>, aliens built grand monuments,&nbsp;left behind&nbsp;artifacts, and may have even caused certain civilizations to disappear <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-without-a-trace-cast-list-for-the-show-without-a-trace/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">without a trace</a>.

Historians and archaeologists have criticized the theory since it started to gain mainstream popularity with Erich von D&auml;niken&#39;s 1968&nbsp;best-selling book Chariots of the Gods? -&nbsp;but what do you think? Did these ancient civilizations create&nbsp;genuine&nbsp;human marvels or were they the benefactors of&nbsp;interplanetary encounters?

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What Ancient Civilizations Do You Believe Were Contacted By Aliens?

Brenden Donnelly

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Living in the 21st century certainly has its perks&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;deoderant, Snapchat, Beyonc&eacute;, and the list goes on. Fortunately for us, we&#39;re aren&#39;t doomed&nbsp;to roam any prehistoric era, when not getting mauled and eaten by a saber-tooth tiger was the most success a person could ask for on any given day. One of the biggest benefit of the modern age would have to be the lack of gargantuan &ndash; and sometimes carnivorous &ndash;&nbsp;prehistoric animals. Creatures of land, sky, and sea <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-prehistoric-animals-were-huge/olivia-pasquarelli" target="_blank">were all significantly larger</a> back then, and although most of these age-old giants have some distant relative still living today,&nbsp;they&#39;re&nbsp;not necessarily what you would expect. Check out the list below for things that were terrifyingly bigger in the prehistoric era.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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Things That Were Terrifyingly Bigger In Prehistoric Times

Animals That Were Terrifyingly Bigger in Prehistoric Times

Jacoby Bancroft

Rankings, theories, behind-the-scenes stories, and fun facts about the adventures of Indiana Jones, the archaeologist who can find anything—except the inner-strength to conquer his own fear of snakes.

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Indiana Jones

Since his debut in 1981, Indiana Jones has been doing his part to rescue relics and save history from unsavory characters who wish to use the artifacts for malicious means. Watching Indy save the day and the treasure is always a treat, but do you ever wonder if that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-buried-treasure-still-missing/emily-mast">treasure</a> actually existed, and if so, what it would be worth?&nbsp;We looked at the artifacts, treasures, and relics <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/harrison-ford-on-making-indiana-jones/natalie-jonah">Indiana Jones</a> saved and/or found over the years. By comparing them to real-world counterparts, or making real-world guesstimates based on the time period and materials used to create the relic, we came up with how much each treasure might be worth. From the ark of the covenant to the Eye of the Peacock, here are a few artifacts found by Indiana Jones and what they might be worth in the real world. Please vote up the rescued relics whose price tags could launch a crusade of their own.&nbsp;

The Actual, Real World Value Of All The Artifacts Indiana Jones Finds

How Much Are The Ancient Artifacts In Indiana Jones Actually Worth?

M. Muir

Indiana Jones Franchise

With&nbsp;Raiders of the Lost Ark,&nbsp;Harrison Ford helped birth&nbsp;one of Hollywood&#39;s most beloved characters. Even if&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ways-indiana-jones-was-a-terrible-archaeologist/christy-box" target="_blank">Indiana Jones is a horrible archeologist</a> (technically speaking),&nbsp;he never fails to get the job done, and he seems to always return home with some fantastic treasure.&nbsp;

In an eternal quest to locate artifacts that &quot;belong in a museum,&quot; Indy&nbsp;travels all over the world, fights off villainous cult leaders, falls in love (several times), and reconnects with his studious, scholarly father, who&#39;s&nbsp;played by Sean Connery.&nbsp;Over the course of four films and three decades, he&#39;s&nbsp;recovered numerous artifacts, namely the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, the Crystal Skull, and the Cross of Coronado. But he&#39;s found plenty of other cool treasures, too, and his lesser discoveries&nbsp;are still pretty remarkable by real-life standards.&nbsp;

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Indy's Recovered A Lot More Than Just The Holy Grail

All The Artifacts Indiana Jones Has Recovered

Hannah Gilham

Roman Empire

<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-empires-ever-history/melissa-sartore?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Roman Empire</a> extended throughout the Mediterranean, well into Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. From the early 1st century CE to the early 4th century, the Roman Empire spread its military and culture alike. Later shifting from Rome to Constantinople - where it continued on as the Byzantine Empire - the Roman Empire left an undeniable political and social legacy.&nbsp;

As individuals went about their daily lives in Rome, perhaps watching <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/roman-colosseum-experience/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">an event at the Colosseum</a> or visiting the Forum to buy everyday items, life in the Roman Empire was a mixture of excitement and the mundane - not unlike today. Similarly, some popular things in the Roman Empire strongly resemble stuff you use day in and day out. There are some differences, of course, it was the ancient world. But take a look at Roman every day items compared to how they look now!

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20 Everyday Items From The Roman Empire Vs. How They Look Today

20 Everyday Items From Ancient Rome Vs. How They Look Today

Gladiator

The writers and directors of&nbsp;Gladiator&nbsp;would probably flunk&nbsp;a history class. If you think the film is based on a true story, you might want to look through this list. Though the film is enjoyable, ridiculously popular, and has held&nbsp;up relatively well since its release in 2000,&nbsp;it often provides entertainment at the expense of fact. When examining the historical facts Gladiator got wrong, the film's tendency to prioritize&nbsp;story – and style –&nbsp;over substance becomes clear. So, what is the level of accuracy in Ridley Scott's films?Known as&nbsp;one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/movies-and-films-directed-by-ridley-scott/reference">Ridley Scott’s best movies</a>,&nbsp;Gladiator was one of the first commercially and critically successful films of the 21st century. And though the movie&nbsp;won Oscars and earned piles of money at the&nbsp;box office,&nbsp;its success meant that audiences became accustomed to a fictionalized ancient Rome. (Of course, this is hardly the first time Hollywood disregarded the historical record to make a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pretty-good-movies-about-roman-empire/melissa-sartore">pretty good Roman movie</a>.) From Marcus Aurelius to Commodus, these are the real facts.From falsely portrayed historical figures to inaccurate social patterns,&nbsp;historical errors in Gladiator abound.&nbsp;The bad history in the film&nbsp;doesn’t make it a bad movie, it just means that viewers should turn to a history book –&nbsp;rather than a sword-and-sandals epic –&nbsp;to learn facts about the Roman world. Check out all the things that are historically inaccurate in&nbsp;Gladiator&nbsp;below.&nbsp;If you like this movie despite the inaccuracies, be sure to check out our list of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-gladiators-movies-list/all-genre-movies-lists">movies like Gladiator</a>.

'Gladiator' Might Be One of The Most Historically Inaccurate Movies Ever

Everything The Movie Gladiator Got Completely Wrong About History

Setareh Janda

Ancient History lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of ancient history lists and rankings