What do you and your family do for fun? You might go to the movies, take a walk in a park, or watch a ballgame. Romans had very different ways of enjoying themselves.
In ancient times, Romans went to public bathhouses. There they would talk, gossip, and even do business. For a night out, wealthy Romans might go to a play or concert. But poor people liked chariot races and the bloody fights known as gladiator games. Emperors and other leaders paid for these games to keep the people happy. Politicians used the games to help the poor forget their problems. The crowds worked out their anger by yelling at the players. That kept them from yelling at their leaders.