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44 BC - Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war breaks out. 27 BC - The Roman Empire begins as Caesar Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor. 64 AD - Much of Rome burns. Legend has it that Emperor Nero watched the city burn while playing a lyre.

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This is part of the Second Punic war. 73 BC - Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising. 45 BC - Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome. Caesar makes his famous Crossing of the Rubicon and defeats Pompey in a civil war to become the supreme ruler of Rome. This signals the end of the Roman Republic.

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http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_rome_timeline.php

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http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6e.asp

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Before fighting, gladiators had to swear the following oath: "I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword."

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The Romans continued the practice, holding games roughly 10 to 12 times in an average year. Paid for by the emperor, the games were used to keep the poor and unemployed entertained and occupied. The emperor hoped to distract the poor from their poverty in the hopes that they would not revolt.

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The gladiator games lasted for nearly a thousand years, reaching their peak between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD. The games finally declined during the early 5th century after the adoption of Christianity as state church of the Roman Empire in 380, although beast hunts (venationes) continued into the 6th century.

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Myrmillo: Wore a fish-like helmet and had an oblong shield and a sword. Retiaritus: Fought with a net, brandishing either a trident or a dagger. Secutos: Had a shield, sword, heavy helmet, and armour on one arm. Sagitarius: fought with a bow and arrow.

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Romulus killed Remus and became ruler of Rome and named the city after himself. Rome was ruled by kings for the next 240 years.

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Rome was ruled by kings for the next 240 years. 509 BC - Rome becomes a republic. The last king is overthrown and Rome is now ruled by elected officials called senators. There is a constitution with laws and a complex republican government. 218 BC - Hannibal invades Italy. Hannibal leads the Carthage army in his famous crossing of the Alps to attack Rome.

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How were they picked?

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Facts about the Roman Colosseum The Colosseum or Coliseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and sand,[ it is the largest amphitheatre ever built. The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum.

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A:  Gladiators were combatants who fought against each other, condemned criminals and wild animals during the time of Roman Republic and Roman Empire. They were armed with deadly weapons and in most cases fought till either one of them accepted defeat or was killed fighting. Gladiators fought for the entertainment of Rome’s rich and mighty and also for public. They built amphitheaters like ‘The Colosseum’, where gladiator games were held regularly and were witnessed by excited crowds who cheered for their favorite fighters just like we cheer our favorite sportsmen and teams today.

http://www.historyforkids.net/roman-gladiators.html

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The city of Rome is founded. Legend has it that the twin sons of Mars, the god of war, named Romulus and Remus founded the city. Romulus killed Remus and became ruler of Rome and named the city after himself. Rome was ruled by kings for the next 240 years.
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_rome/romulus_and_remus.php

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A gladiator (Latin: gladiator, "swordsman", from gladius, "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals

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Part of the Zliten mosaic from Libya (Leptis Magna), about 2nd century CE. It shows (left to right) a thraex fighting a murmillo, a hoplomachus standing with another murmillo (who is signaling his defeat to the referee), and one of a matched pair.

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Irrespective of their origin, gladiators offered spectators an example of Rome's martial ethics and, in fighting or dying well, they could inspire admiration and popular acclaim. They were celebrated in high and low art, and their value as entertainers was commemorated in precious and commonplace objects throughout the Roman world.