Nero's Urban Renewal: Rebuilding Rome After the Great Fire

Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History · Jul 31, 2026 · 12m · transcript

After the devastating Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, Nero seized the opportunity to rebuild the city according to modern principles of urban planning. This episode explores his ambitious building codes—wider streets, fireproof insulae, and height restrictions—as well as his construction of the Domus Aurea as a public park, the Baths of Nero, the Macellum Magnum, and the Neronian Forum. But his reforms sparked controversy: were they visionary or self-serving? We examine the balance between public welfare and imperial grandeur, and why later emperors dismantled much of his work. Also, the episode…