Richest Man in Rome
Marcus Licinius Crassus (115 - 53 BC)
I have been watching a lot of the HBO series ROME and it has gotten me obsessively interested in reading about ancient history. When I was doing some research I came across an interesting real estate related story. Cassus was one of the richest most successful businessmen in Roman History. His wealth came mostly from slave trade and real estate. He came to own most of Rome and increased his fortune from 300 talents to 7100 talents. (Bill Thayer puts the value of a talent in 2003 as US$20,000 or $6 million to $143 million.)
Fire and Real Estate in Ancient Rome:
Using his wealth and position he developed a cruel technique based on the fact that there was no efficient means of fighting fires offered by the government, so he raised a troop of 500 slaves, all skilled builders and trained in the Roman method of firefighting -- which is destroying the burning building to curtail the spread of the flames.
He and the slaves would go to the burning house, and as it burned, then Crassus would attempt to buy it as well as the neighbouring buildings. As the building burned more and more, Crassus would offer less and less. As soon as the owner decided to sell, the slaves would quickly put the fire out. Using his team of builders he would then rebuild the area and keep it for rent, or sell it for large profit. What a shark! At one point Crassus was said even to own most of the city of Rome. Its very curious to think who might be starting these fires. I am sure that if Crassus came to you to sell before fire you better sell or there might be a fire.
Marcus Licinius Crassus (115 - 53 BC)
I have been watching a lot of the HBO series ROME and it has gotten me obsessively interested in reading about ancient history. When I was doing some research I came across an interesting real estate related story. Cassus was one of the richest most successful businessmen in Roman History. His wealth came mostly from slave trade and real estate. He came to own most of Rome and increased his fortune from 300 talents to 7100 talents. (Bill Thayer puts the value of a talent in 2003 as US$20,000 or $6 million to $143 million.)Fire and Real Estate in Ancient Rome:
Using his wealth and position he developed a cruel technique based on the fact that there was no efficient means of fighting fires offered by the government, so he raised a troop of 500 slaves, all skilled builders and trained in the Roman method of firefighting -- which is destroying the burning building to curtail the spread of the flames.
He and the slaves would go to the burning house, and as it burned, then Crassus would attempt to buy it as well as the neighbouring buildings. As the building burned more and more, Crassus would offer less and less. As soon as the owner decided to sell, the slaves would quickly put the fire out. Using his team of builders he would then rebuild the area and keep it for rent, or sell it for large profit. What a shark! At one point Crassus was said even to own most of the city of Rome. Its very curious to think who might be starting these fires. I am sure that if Crassus came to you to sell before fire you better sell or there might be a fire.
Cassus is also famous for being Sent into battle by the senate against the great slave leader Spartacus during the third slave rebellion. While Cassus acquired much wealth and power he never was able to achieve political success due most likely to the fact that he could not compare in any way to the great leaders of his time such as Julius Ceaser and Cissiro.
Brian
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