How Vespasian’s 70 CE urine tax on public latrines filled imperial coffers and spurred debates on purity and profit
Vespasian’s Urine Tax: Funding Rome Through the Public Latrine Levy
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Ancient Rome
Ceres, Liber, and Libera on the Aventine: How a Temple Forged Plebeian Power in 493 BCE
How the Aventine triad’s temple (493 BCE) turned ritual into law, archives, and grain—shaping plebeian identity in the early Republic.
The Aurelian Walls: Rome’s Last Great Defense of the Imperial Age
How the Aurelian Walls reshaped Rome’s urban landscape and safeguarded the empire in the late 3rd century.
The Teutoburg Forest Disaster (9 AD): Arminius, Varus, and the Day Rome Lost Three Legions
In 9 AD, Arminius ambushed Varus and destroyed three Roman legions—fixing Rome’s frontier on the Rhine.
The Secession of the Plebs in 494 BC: Rome’s First Social Revolution
Learn how the Secession of the Plebs in 494 BC reshaped the Roman Republic, giving rise to the Tribune of the Plebs and a new balance of power.
Rebuilding Rome’s Heart: The Construction of the Curia Julia in 29 BC
Discover how Julius Caesar and Augustus transformed Rome’s Senate House into the enduring Curia Julia, shaping political life for centuries.
Lemuria: Rome’s Ghost Festival and the Rituals of the Restless Dead
Explore Lemuria, the ancient Roman festival where families appeased vengeful spirits with midnight rituals and whispered chants.
The Arch of Titus: Commemorating Rome’s Triumph Over Judah in AD 82
Explore how the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum, erected in AD 82, immortalized the victory of Titus over Jerusalem and influenced triumphal architecture for centuries.
The Cloaca Maxima: Rome’s Ancient Sewer That Shaped a Civilization
Uncover the story behind the Cloaca Maxima, Rome’s monumental sewer system built in the 6th century BC that defined ancient urban engineering.
Tributes and Taxes: How Rome Financed an Expanding Republic in 150 BC
Dive into the world of Roman taxation during the Republic’s expansion in 150 BC and how it funded the rise of a Mediterranean empire.
