> > If we had never invented a way to record images, would we have gladiator games like the ancient Romans did?
>
> Sorry, but I don't see what recording images has to do with Roman or other games. Do you mean that modern sports (football, American football, cricket, baseball, whatever) only work because they are televised, or that if we had no film and tv we would go to gladiator games for entertainment instead?
>
> Either way, the answer is no. Sports like football and cricket existed long before still photography was invented, let alone television. As far as I know, gladiatorial contests died out with the Romans. In the 1500-odd years between then and the arrival of motion pictures people found other forms of entertainment (admittedly including things like cock fighting and badger baiting, as well as jousting, boxing and the aforementioned team sports, and of course plays and music hall/vaudeville).
>
> Sally

I agree. The arena gained popularity in Rome not just because they lacked the near-universal opportunities for entertainment that we have today, but also because of the cultural character of the Romans. Rome was, first and foremost, a warrior culture. They emulated many of the finer things in life and government from the Greeks, but the main thing that separated them from the Visigoths and Gauls was their greater love of order and technological progress. In such a society, organized and controlled displays of deadly violence were a natural choice for public entertainment.

If the Romans were still around today and had discovered film, I have no doubt that they would televise the carnage in the arena and broadcast it to all corners of their empire. They aren't around today partly because weaning one's citizens on murder for the sake of entertainment does not a healthy culture make. Even in today's violent video games, movies and other forms of entertainment, there is almost always at least a fig leaf of plot casting the protagonist in opposition to some greater evil.

10"We who are about to frag, salute you!"Kan