Rome's First Firefighter Let Buildings Burn for Profit

Marcus Licinius Crassus, ancient Rome’s wealthiest man, ran a fire brigade with a catch—he’d only extinguish flames if desperate owners sold their property to him at rock-bottom prices. This ruthless business model, blending greed with necessity, has sparked heated debates about disaster capitalism, wealth inequality, and the privatization of essential services. The story’s eerie parallels to modern practices invite us to question just how much society has truly evolved.