Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed though the gates onto the sand. In this prequel, the House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the glow of its infamous champion Gannicus, whose skill with a sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women. These are the times a young Batiatus has been waiting for.

Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus. To survive, he must become more than a man. More than a gladiator. He must become a legend.

On the heels of the bloody escape from the House of Batiatus, the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic. Gaius Claudius Glaber and his Roman troops are sent to Capua to crush the growing band of freed slaves that Spartacus leads before it can inflict further damage. Spartacus is presented the choice of satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man that condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his budding army from breaking apart.

Spartacus, determined to bring down the Roman Republic, now leads a rebellion swelled by thousands of freed slaves. Roman leader Gaius Claudius Glaber has died, and former rivals Naevia, Crixus, Gannicus and Agron become rebel generals, joining Spartacus in the war against the empire. The Roman Senate turns to a ruthless politician and soldier, Marcus Crassus, to put down the slaves. Crassus takes on a young rising star - Julius Caesar - as an ally.