9 C.E.-79 C.E.
Roman Emperor

Reasserting Fiscal Stability. Titus Flavius Vespasianus took command of the Roman Empire after the chaotic year following the death of Nero, during which he was the fourth man to act as emperor. Vespasian brought discipline and control back to imperial finances. He instituted a thorough census (counting) of the resources of the empire and discovered many untapped resources for bringing in more money to the public treasury. Some places that had previously been exempt from Roman taxes (such as Byzantium and Rhodes) he now taxed. He also found ingenious ways to raise money, such as by taxing latrines for their urine (fullers—cloth cleaners—used the urine in their businesses). Vespasian ran a tight financial ship but also invested in many large-scale public building projects, including a new forum (a downtown business area) and, most famously, the Colosseum...