Chariot races
Today, the circus is a travelling show with animals, acrobats, clowns and other performers. Shows take place in a tent, called the 'big top'. The original circuses of Europe were in stadiums - the biggest were in ancient Rome. The word circus comes from the Latin word for 'circle' or 'ring'. Today, the 'ring' is the area in which circus acts are performed.
Roman circuses were also different from modern circuses in other ways. They probably had juggling acts and even some acrobatics. Sometimes, exotic animals were shown to the crowds. But the main event was the chariot racing. In ancient Rome, the circus was the only public event that both men and women could go to.
Travelling show
After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, gypsies probably kept the circus tradition alive. Gypsies are a wandering people who likely went to Europe from India via Egypt. The word 'gypsy' comes from the word 'Egypt'. It is thought they trained animals, touring from fair to fair with their shows.
The modern circus did not appear until the 1760s. In 1768, Phillip Astley opened what he called Astley's Amphitheatre in London. An amphitheatre is an open area surrounded by seats that slope upwards, so that everyone has a view. He began with horse-riding shows. The horses and riders performed tricks. When he introduced clowns and juggling acts, the modern circus was born.
