For thousands of years, children of all ages have loved the wonder and spectacle of the circus. Circus-type shows can be traced back to Roman times, but traveling circus shows existed during the Middle Ages of Europe. The circus as it is known today was developed in Europe.
For years, large American circuses such as Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus performed their acts in huge tents; the largest housed the biggest attractions and was called the big top. Today, most large circuses perform at indoor arenas.
