Former gladiator Spartacus leads a slave revolt back in Rome and initially defeats many Roman soldiers.
Roman legions are brought home from abroad to deal with the insurgency.
After Spartacus is defeated and his army surrenders, all the insurgents are executed (crucified), with the 6,000 corpse–laden crucifixes lined–up along the Appian Way.
The Romans justify the execution of the surrendered army with the (spurious) assertion that “since the slaves had violated their employment contracts, they were liable for the death penalty.”