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No, the first circus was not in Rome. It was in London, in 1768. Philip Astley, a cavalry officer, was out of work after the Seven Years War, so he opened a riding school. He gave lessons in the morning, and he, and eventually his wife, did demonstrations in the afternoon. He rode in a ring, a circle, which in Latin is "circus." He built more viewing capacity and added other kinds of acts. His show was so popular that it was soon imitated by Charles Hughes. Astley expanded, even opening a circus in Paris. The rest, as they say, is history. |
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