Marcus Crassus became the richest man in Rome partly through real estate. He created the first fire department in Rome. Sometimes he paid arsonists to set fire to a house and then he would wait around the corner with his fire fighters. When the fire was underway, Crassus and Read more
The Third Veientine War was from 406-396 B.C.E. The war was marked by the ten-year siege of Veii. (The siege of Troy was also for ten years.) Rome laid siege to Veii for several months during the summer, but her soldiers had to return to their farms for the rest Read more
In 451 B.C., a Roman patrician named Appius Claudius fell in lust for a plebeian woman named Verginia (also spelled Virginia). She was the daughter of an esteemed centurion named Verginius and betrothed to Lucius Icilius. Gifts and bribes would not woo the girl, so Claudius turned to subterfuge. Read more
During its early years, Rome conquered cities around it. The wars were bloody. To avoid more bloodshed, an agreement was made with the next foe. It was agreed that instead of sending their armies to do battle, they would pick their three best warriors and the trios would fight Read more