Part 3/10:
Benjamin Franklin famously declared that "nothing in life is certain except death and taxes." Taxes formed a critical component of Rome's sustained success, but their implementation in ancient times differed drastically from today’s multifaceted tax systems. Initially, Rome levied a wealth tax on its landowners—drawing from their landed estates, livestock, and even slaves. This tax, approximately 1% of their net worth, not only funded infrastructure but also solidified a protective support system around the realm—a military reinforcement that landowners could rely on.