SentencedtospendouttherestofhisadultlifelaboringintheharshdesertsofEgypt,theThracianslaveSpartacusgetsanewleaseonlifewhenheispurchasedbytheobeseownerofaRomangladiatorschool.MovedbythedefianceofanEthiopianwarrior,Draba,SpartacusleadsaslaveuprisingwhichthreatensRome'sstatusquo.AsSpartacusgainssympathywithintheRomanSenate,healsomakesapowerfulenemyintheformofMarcusLuciniusCrassus,whomakesitamatterofpersonalhonortocrushtherebellion.