NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY 49Crassus’s keen eye for business, and instinct
for any opportunity to increase his wealth, took
him into extremely dubious moral territory. He
apparently had few qualms when making profit
from others’ misfortune. He kept a sharp lookout
for fires that would periodically destroy whole
sections of the city, particularly in the most pop-
ular quarters, where the buildings were stacked
together. When a block burned down, owners
of adjacent buildings would then sell their own
for fear of collapse, and Crassus would swoop
on the easy pickings. According to Plutarch, “the
greatest part of Rome, at one time or another,
came into his hands.”
One of Crassus’ most valu-
able assets was his enslaved
workforce of more than 500
people. Many considered
them more valuable than
his silver mines or farmland.
Crassus educated them to
fulfill various roles such as
secretaries, goldsmiths,
stewards, and servants.
Some were trained specialists—architects and
masons who could repair and rebuild damaged
properties with little expense. After the renova-
tions, Crassus would sell the buildings at much
higher prices.Smooth Talker
The unscrupulous real estate tycoon was not,
however, lacking in social skills. In an era when
rhetoric was essential to further one’s political
career, Crassus was considered a highly gifted
public speaker. He was also cordial and kind
to everyone, even to the humblest people who
stopped him on the street. He impressed his
fellow Romans by his prodigious memory
for names, one of the best assets of his
constant and cunning flattery (while also
enjoying being flattered).
While known for his greed,
Crassus was also capable
of being generous. Plu-
tarch described how
he opened his house
to visitors, donated aSLAVE LABOR
Enslaved workers toil in a Roman fresco. Crassus
relied on a large slave labor force to renovate the
damaged houses he bought and sold.OWNING
THE WHOLE
OF ROME
An insula (below)
was a Roman
apartment building
that typically
housed laborers.
Crassus often
bought these
and neighboring
structures after
they had been
damaged by fire.
A. JEMOLO/ALBUMWHA/AURIMAGES