Firefighting in ancient Rome was often managed by private companies that would demand payment to extinguish fires, resembling a mafia-like system.

Nero attempted to organize fire relief efforts in Rome during actual fires, countering the narrative that he was indifferent while the city burned.

In ancient Rome, wealthy citizens often lived on the ground floor of buildings to escape fires, contrary to modern expectations where the wealthy occupy penthouses.

Rome was the first city in history to go over a million people at its height, making it a major urban center.

The Romans were exceptional engineers, using concrete creatively to construct enduring and aesthetically pleasing buildings, such as the Pantheon, which influenced architectural design for centuries.

Crassus, a wealthy Roman, used his fire brigade to extort money from property owners by threatening to let their homes burn unless they paid him.

The Romans had a sophisticated system of aqueducts and public latrines, but waste management often involved chamber pots that were emptied out of windows, contributing to unsanitary conditions.

The collapse of Roman civilization involved poor leadership and decisions, alongside material reasons for its decline.

The fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to a combination of civil wars, migrations, and the inability to maintain military strength beyond its borders.