r arose. As never seen before, the poor and women were give the freedoms and privileges to participate in many social actives that whereonce thought of for just men, or the noble class. These actives such as the public baths and thegladiatorial games gave the people of Rome a chance to talk about the day or politics but basicallyto get to know one another. According to some, this leisure time was not always spent wisely orto the befit of Rome it self. According to J. P. Toner, the soldiers constantly weakened theirphysical strength thought leisure time.4 Not only did the Romans spent time in leisure butaccording to some, the leisure time spent by Romans was one of the reasons for the fall of theRoman Empire. It was thought by some that the leisure actives offered in Rome created a weakersolider, one that was not ready for battle. Although many would argue differently, the decline andultimately the fall of Rome has many different reasons not only the overindulgence of the Romans. Many social actives such as the public baths brought the people of Rome together. Thepublic baths of the Roman Empire where not to cleanse themselves, but to be a part of Romansociety. This was a pleasure with nothing scared about it. These where among the benefits ofurban life, the product of public benefaction, or evergetism, and included public baths, the aters,chariot races at the Circus, and fights between gladiators or hunters and wild animals the arena ofthe amphitheater.5 While in the baths a regular citizen could meet a gladiator or a chariot racer,and they could share the same experience together. The baths were so popular that everyone hadaccess to them, many of the public baths were inexpensive while others had libraries and mosquesto please and inspire the more upscale customer. Those baths being the more expensive pricedbath houses. The appearance of the public bath depended on the financial state of the owner aswell as his clie...
