In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore 18th-century Europe's L'Ancien Regime: aristocratic culture, Louis XIV's Versailles, military revolutions, European warfare, Enlightenment developments, and the economic and political conditions leading to the French Revolution. -- SPONSOR: SHOPIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at ⁠⁠⁠https://shopify.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠ -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (06:00) European haute culture, Baroque period, and aristocratic living (14:40) Louis XIV, Versailles, and French court politics (19:59) Sponsor: Shopiy (22:00) Enlightenment developments and Treaty of Westphalia (28:20) Seeds of the French Revolution and bureaucratic power (34:40) Economic inequality in 18th century France (40:00) Military revolution: from mercenaries to national armies (49:00) English systems: accent evolution, boarding schools, and Civil War (52:20) Religious wars in Britain and the Glorious Revolution (56:10) Enlightenment, literacy, and class divisions across Europe (1:05:00) European regional divisions (Northwest, Latin, Eastern, Ottoman) (1:12:10) English nobility strategy and meritocratic integration (1:21:50) British Isles unification: Scotland and Ireland (1:27:40) European warfare system and balance of power (1:29:50) Austrian and Russian Empires (1:35:50) Great Northern War: Charles XII vs Peter the Great (1:39:50) Enlightened despotism (Catherine the Great, Frederick II, Maria Theresa) (1:45:50) Spain's decline and Vauban's predictions for France (1:56:30) War of Spanish Succession (2:04:40) 18th century warfare culture and tactics (2:11:10) Frederick the Great and the Seven Years War (2:15:20) War of Jenkins' Ear (2:16:40) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine the Enlightenment's philosophical transformation from medieval religious to modern mechanistic worldviews, analyzing French rationalist, British empirical, and German romantic traditions that fundamentally shaped contemporary Western civilization and thought. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at ⁠⁠https://shopify.com/cognitive⁠⁠ -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:15) The Enlightenment (00:50) Defining the Enlightenment - 18th Century Philosophic Breakthrough (01:06) Why the Enlightenment is Hard to Comprehend Today (01:30) Living Off Systems Created by Smarter Earlier Eras (02:37) Living in a World Created by the Enlightenment (03:19) The Enlightenment as an Open Source Toolkit (04:00) Spenglerian Analysis of the Enlightenment (04:30) Ancient World Parallels - Greece and Rome (05:00) Life-Affirming and Life-Denying Phases of Civilization (05:48) The Axial Age - India, China, and Islam (06:52) Every Civilization Doubts Its Old Religion (07:30) Disintegration Since the Enlightenment (17:35) Sponsors Zcash | Shopify (20:18) 17th Century Context & 30 Years War (56:00) British, German & French Enlightenment Discussion (02:05:20) Tolstoy and the Limits of Rationalism (02:06:27) 19th Century Balance - Technology vs Romantic Subjectivism (02:07:15) Transition from French to German Enlightenment (02:08:00) Eastern Europe and Enlightened Despots (02:08:30) Next Video Preview - 18th Century Regime Europe (02:09:00) The Rational Elite Problem (02:10:29) Intelligence vs Character (02:11:00) The Bell Curve and Overproduction of Mids (02:12:18) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explorE the Mediterranean's decline from civilization's epicenter to peripheral status, examining Islamic stagnation, Spanish-Ottoman authoritarianism, and Northwest Europe's technological and institutional ascendancy. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at ⁠⁠https://shopify.com/cognitive⁠⁠ -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (00:42) The Problem with "Mediterranean Food" (02:46) Geography of the Mediterranean (05:00) The Mediterranean as America-Sized System (06:28) Unity vs Division (09:01) Atlantic Sailing Technology (17:30) Marseille & Cairo: Civilizational Decline (28:00) British Stranglehold on the Mediterranean (37:18) Northwest Europe's Hermetic Switch (45:12) Classical Civilization & The Roman Empire (56:58) Ancient vs Modern Globalization (1:03:17) Fernand Braudel & Historical Methodology (1:16:18) The Fall of Rome & Rise of Three Civilizations (1:27:00) Islamic Golden Age & Mediterranean Dominance (1:37:27) Italian City-States & Renaissance (1:44:32) Norman Sicily & Christian Reconquest (1:52:06) CORE THESIS: The Islamic Dark Ages (2:00:00) Spanish & Ottoman Empires Divide the Mediterranean (2:07:38) Mediterranean Culture: Honor, Elites & Decline (2:13:39) Why Mediterranean Europe Failed (2:20:31) Two Democratic Traditions (2:25:00) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze the Catholic Church's 2000-year evolution from Constantine through modernity, examining its role in shaping Western civilization amid profound historical transformations. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at ⁠https://shopify.com/cognitive⁠ -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:39) The Catholic Church's 2000-Year Legacy (13:52) Sponsors: Zcash | Shopify (17:53) Constantine and the Christianization of Rome (32:00) St. Augustine and the Fall of Rome (37:00) The Dark Ages: Fathers of the Church (59:53) The High Middle Ages Renaissance (73:49) The Papal-Imperial Conflict (82:06) The Babylonian Captivity and Italian Renaissance (86:27) Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation (94:00) Counter-Reformation and the Turn Against Science (102:00) Descartes, Enlightenment, and the Death of the Mystic (107:00) Napoleon, 19th Century, and Modernity (114:27) The Future: Third World Growth and Protestant vs. Catholic (123:00) Wrap-Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze capitalism's cycles across civilizations, examining how free markets emerged from feudalism, their conflict with monarchies and socialism, and regulatory capture's impact on economic development. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling 10% of U.S. e-commerce. With hundreds of templates, AI tools for product descriptions, and seamless marketing campaign creation, it's like having a design studio and marketing team in one. Start your $1/month trial today at https://shopify.com/cognitive -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction: The Rise and History of Capitalism (01:00) Personal Bias in Scholarship & Marxist Economics (04:30) Cognitive Biases in American Institutions (07:30) Sponsors: Zcash | Spotify (10:12) Medieval Europe: Capitalism's Emergence from Feudalism (33:00) Third World Examples & The Reality of Bureaucracy (46:00) Victorian Britain & Why Classical Liberalism Failed (59:00) Cold War Lessons: Capitalism vs. Socialism (1:10:00) The Meaning Crisis & Psychological Critiques of Capitalism (1:28:00) Ancient & Asian Capitalism: Bronze Age to Silk Road (1:47:00) Medieval European Banking: Templars, Jews & Monasteries (2:00:00) Regulatory Capture Myths: Snake Oil, Standard Oil & The FDA (2:12:00) Immigration's Role in American Socialism (2:19:00) Complete Historical Chronology & Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore Eurasian steppe nomads from Aryans to Mongols, analyzing how small mobile populations repeatedly conquered and influenced much larger sedentary civilizations. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠⁠ More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction and Philosophy of History (12:18) The Eurasian Steppe Geography (12:22) Sponsors: Zcash | Netsuite (18:07) Water Analogy for Steppe Peoples (23:34) Two Generative Cores of the Steppe (26:31) Sponsors: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (27:39) Aryan Origins and Population Mixing (31:00) Horse Technology Evolution (36:17) Aryan Invasions and European Myths (46:01) Cimmerians and Bronze Age Impact (52:00) Xiongnu vs Han Dynasty (1:01:00) Scythians and Persian Conflicts (1:11:00) Sarmatians in the Roman Period (1:14:00) Hun Empire and Attila (1:19:00) Post Hun Peoples and Hungary (1:25:00) Chinese Barbarian States Period (1:30:00) Turkic Migrations and Slave Soldiers (1:34:00) Understanding Turkish Identity (1:48:00) Mongol Universal Empire (1:55:00) End of Steppe Power (2:01:00) Future of Inner Asia (2:08:57) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a historical analysis examining European colonialism's impact across Asian civilizations, exploring patterns of conquest, resistance, and cultural transformation to understand broader geopolitical dynamics. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠⁠ More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (11:10) Introduction to Asian Colonialism Topic (13:18) Old World vs New World Framework (20:45) Oriental Despotism as Unifying Asian Characteristic (24:07) Post-Colonial Asian Nationalism (25:24) Sponsors: Zcash | Netsuite (28:00) Why Asian Colonies Adopted Socialism (37:37) Portuguese Entry into Indian Ocean (42:00) Asian Civilizations' Failure to Recognize European Threat (48:00) Islamic World Response to European Colonialism (49:19) Sponsor: Oracle (51:00) Turkish Empire Decline and Conservative Reactions (55:00) Asian Shame-Based Culture Examples (1:01:00) Indian Social Structure Under European Contact (1:13:00) Portuguese Empire and Dutch Replacement (1:30:32) British India Conquest (1:37:00) British Colonial Policies and Famines (1:45:39) China and the Opium Wars (1:56:00) End of European Colonialism in Asia (2:04:00) Russo-Japanese War and Pan-Asian Consciousness (2:06:00) Gandhi and Peaceful Resistance (2:07:25) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine Inner Asia as the overlooked crossroads between China, Islam, Europe, and India, tracing ancient migrations through modern geopolitics in this forgotten spine of Eurasian civilization. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠ More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) Introduction: Defining Inner Asia as the Forgotten Crossroads (1:37) Geographic Scope: From Transoxiana to Tibet and Zomia (3:25) James C. Scott and "The Art of Not Being Governed" (5:05) Zomia: Southeast Asian Anarchist Borderlands (9:24) Burma's Capital Move and State Control Strategies (13:00) Reframing Inner Asia as Central Hub vs. Periphery (14:33) The Continental Divide of Eurasia (18:00) Sponsors: Zcash | NetSuite (19:54) Lord Miles and the Wakan Corridor Adventure (23:42) Rudyard Kipling and "The Man Who Would Be King" (28:00) Marx vs. Kipling: Comparing Views on Race and Colonialism (31:24) World War I's Impact on European Colonial Prestige (35:07) Sponsor: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (36:34) Prehistoric Settlement: East Asian Population Formation (40:22) The Aryan Invasions and Bronze Age Civilizations (47:24) Genetic Mixing: Europeans, Persians, and Indians (57:15) Scythians vs. Persian Empire: Cyrus the Great's Death (1:02:00) Alexander the Great: Conquering Beyond Persia (1:08:04) The Hubris Trap and Christianity's Solution (1:10:53) Chinese Discovery of the Western World (150 BC) (1:15:05) Central Asian Christianity and Nestorian Civilization (1:20:48) Islamic Conquest and Religious Transformation (1:27:00) Tibet's Warrior Empire vs. China (1:30:30) Amira Ghurko's Journey: Meeting Tibet's Buddhist Elite (1:38:00) Islamic Golden Age: Arab Cotton Boom in Transoxiana (1:44:53) Genghis Khan's Destruction of Central Asian Civilization (1:51:01) The Great Game: British vs. Russian Imperial Competition (1:58:00) Modern Central Asian Dictatorships and Soviet Legacy (2:02:34) Belt and Road Initiative: China's Failed Infrastructure Push (2:06:00) Contemporary Challenges: MMA Fighters and Cultural Impact (2:07:33) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore why gunpowder democratized Europe but enabled Asian autocracy, examining Hawaii, Ottoman, Ming, and Mughal empires to understand how identical technologies create divergent civilizational outcomes. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠ Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠⁠⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠⁠⁠. More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction & Framework(13:00) Case Study #1: Hawaii(17:33) Sponsors: ZCash | Shopify(22:39) Case Study #2: Spanish & Turkish Empires(40:50) Sponsors: Netsuite | Oracle(45:52) Case Study #3: China - Ming & Qing Dynasties(1:07:00) Japan: Brief Military Supremacy(1:07:00) Japan: Brief Military Supremacy(1:11:00) Ottoman Empire: Slave Soldiers & Decline(1:32:06) African Gunpowder Empires(1:38:00) Safavid Persia(1:42:00) Mughal Empire(1:53:00) European Colonialism & Modern Implications Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze 2,000 years of Imperial China's civilizational patterns, examining how Confucian bureaucracy, geographic divisions, and cyclical dynastic struggles shaped one of history's most enduring empires. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠ Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠⁠. More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:45) Imperial China Overview & Macro History (07:00) China's Fall of Rome Period (12:01) Geographic Regions of China (17:24) Sponsors: ZCash | Shopify (23:00) Qin Dynasty Unification (46:20) Qin Dynasty Fall & Han Dynasty Rise (54:00) Han Dynasty Economics & Expansion (1:25:00) Three Ruling Classes: Bureaucracy, Eunuchs, Nobility (1:36:33) Sponsors: Netsuite | Oracle (1:39:00) War of Three Kingdoms & Dark Ages (1:47:00) Tang Dynasty Golden Age (1:55:00) Neo-Confucian Renaissance & Song Dynasty (1:58:00) Mongol Conquest (2:00:00) Ming Dynasty Isolationism (2:08:00) Manchu Conquest & Qing Dynasty (2:12:04) Modern China's Challenges (2:19:24) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a deep-dive analysis of Japanese history exploring cultural patterns, honor systems, political development, and societal evolution from ancient origins through modern stagnation. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: https://x.com/genzcash Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠. More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:35) Why Somalia Will Never Become Denmark (08:27) Japanese DNA Testing Reveals Uncomfortable Truths (09:18) The Ainu People Japan Wants You to Forget (15:07) The Guess the Asian App Controversy (16:09) Sponsors: Zcash | Shopify (29:51) Honor Cultures: Why Africans and Celts Fight Differently (37:13) AI Bots Are Stalking Me (46:33) Why I Never Take Notes (But Had To For This) (1:05:47) My Dad's Mercury Poisoning from Tuna Fish (1:06:33) China Should Sacrifice Lives for Archaeology (1:41:42) Sponsors: NetSuite | Oracle (2:18:19) Matthew Perry vs Admiral Perry (2:34:49) Throwing Up in Nanjing on My 18th Birthday (2:45:03) Stop Making Me Feel Guilty for Hiroshima (2:45:53) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a deep-dive into the Mongol Empire's rise, conquests, and civilizational impact, examining how Genghis Khan's brutal campaigns reshaped Eurasian politics and accelerated Western Europe's ascendancy. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi Wallet at https://z.cash/ecosystem/zashi-wallet/ and tag @genzcash to start. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/102 - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (03:04) Polygamous Imperial Cycles and Genghis Khan's Genetic Legacy (05:43) Sponsors: ZCash | Shopify (09:27) Genghis Khan as Totalitarian Figure and Step Empire Dynamics (15:25) Academic Debates About the Mongols - Left vs Military Historians (28:40) Major Mongol Military Campaigns - Badger's Mouth and Khwarezmid (33:27) Sponsors: NetSuite | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (46:14) Genghis Khan's Rise - Childhood, Unification of Mongols (56:59) Conquest of Northern China - 30 Million Dead (1:11:28) Destruction of Central Asia and the Islamic World (1:20:16) Conquest and Transformation of Russia (1:28:59) Mongol Empire Splits - Four Khanates and Kublai Khan (1:43:21) Pax Mongolica and Failed Invasions of Japan/Java (1:52:30) Fall of the Mongol Empire - Black Death and Ming Dynasty (2:06:52) Long-Term Impact - Europe's Rise Over Asia (2:11:42) Mongol Role in Spreading Black Death and Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett go into a deep philosophical exploration of mystical traditions throughout history, examining Plato, Aristotle, Eastern and Western mysticism, and how ancient spiritual knowledge shaped modern civilization and consciousness. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/102 - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: 00:00) Introduction and Philosophy vs Religion (15:31) Sponsors: Netsuite | Shopify (18:43) Plato and the Divine Forms (44:00) Mystical Polarities: Right/Left Hand Paths (54:46) Sponsor: Oracle (56:25) Masculine and Feminine Archetypes (1:21:00) Trinitarian Social Structures and Perception (1:32:00) Shamanic and Spiral Dynamics Traditions (1:41:00) Eastern Mystical Traditions (1:57:00) Three Western Mystical Schools (2:25:00) The Death of Mysticism (2:33:00) Conclusion and Next Episode Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine how sexual dynamics between men and women have shaped civilizations, arguing that modern society's departure from archetypal gender roles threatens societal stability. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/102 - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- Central Thesis Sexual relationships between men and women follow archetypal patterns that determine societal rise and decline throughout history. Three Historical Revolutions Western Revolution - European individualism vs. clan societies Civility Revolution - Rise of social constraints and manners Sexual Revolution - 1960s birth control and "free love" Core Arguments Masculine vs. Feminine Archetypes Masculine = Order, stability, frame-setting Feminine = Chaos, fluidity, boundary-breaking Most masculine societies (Vikings, Romans, Spartans) treated women best Feminine societies paradoxically oppress women more The Modern Crisis ("Mouse Utopia") Traditional mating mechanisms have collapsed Society is "squeamish, terrified, and obsessed with sex simultaneously" Polygamous distribution emerging (high-status men, multiple partners) Rising homosexuality correlates with mating marketplace breakdown Historical Patterns Medieval Period: More sexually open than commonly believed Europe vs Asia: Europe liberalized women's status; Asia restricted it (1000-1800 AD) Christianity's Impact: Created sexual protections for women against powerful men Marriage Ages: Remained 20-30 for over 1000 years, fluctuating with economic conditions Contemporary Issues Birth control removed natural consequences driving commitment Women's economic rise creates mate selection paradox Technology disrupted traditional courtship Current structures function as "harems without sex" Proposed Solutions Need "higher men" to consciously redirect societal trends Rebuild cultural traditions and social structures Masculine frame-setting as foundation for healthy relations "The answer to evolution is being a Chad" Controversial Claims: All societies have been patriarchal; modern feminism decreases women's happiness; sexual differences exceed racial differences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a deep dive into the thousand-year Holy Roman Empire, exploring how this decentralized German confederation shaped European civilization, from Charlemagne's coronation through medieval peak to Napoleonic dissolution, revealing patterns that illuminate modern geopolitics. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/102 - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze the Crusades through civilizational patterns, exploring the clash between ascending Western Europe and declining Islamic civilization during medieval power transitions. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: ⁠⁠https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess⁠⁠ -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102 ⁠⁠- Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠⁠. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Civilizational Context: Crusades as first outward manifestation of Western civilization after centuries of defensive posture against invasions Islamic Golden Age Decline: How 10th-11th century Islamic world transitioned from scientific/capitalist leadership to conservative reaction under Al-Ghazali Seljuk Turkish Expansion: Conquest of Anatolia at Manzikert (1071) weakened Byzantium and triggered papal response to Byzantine requests for aid First Crusade Success: European knights successfully established Crusader states (1099-1291) despite being technologically inferior to Islamic world Military Dynamics: Heavy cavalry vs. horse archers; Christians typically won direct confrontations but Muslims used superior tactics Saladin's Victories: Horns of Hattin (1187) devastated Crusader military, leading to loss of Jerusalem and permanent coastal retreat Fourth Crusade Catastrophe: Venetian-diverted attack on Constantinople (1204) destroyed Byzantine Empire, enabling Ottoman rise Economic Impact: Italian city-states dominated Mediterranean trade, importing Islamic banking/capitalism to Europe Knowledge Transfer: Crusades facilitated return of classical Greek/Roman texts and Islamic scholarship to Western Europe Long-term Consequences: 200-year conflict strengthened European state-building while Islamic world entered prolonged stagnation period Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore the Völkerwanderung—the massive Germanic, Slavic, and Arabic migrations (200 BC-600 AD) that transformed Europe from Mediterranean-centered classical civilization into the foundations of medieval Christendom. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: ⁠https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess⁠ -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠https://netsuite.com/102 ⁠- Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://shopify.com/momentofzen⁠. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- KEY HIGHLIGHTS: What & When Period: ~200 BC to 600 AD (transitional era between classical and medieval worlds) Definition: German term meaning "people's wandering" - massive demographic transfers across Europe Major Migration Waves Germanic migrations - From Denmark/Scandinavia southward and westward Slavic migrations - From Ukraine/Belarus into the Balkans Arabic migrations - Taking North Africa and Mediterranean regions Key Drivers Climate change: Mini ice age forced Germanic peoples south from previously warmer Scandinavia Hun invasions: Nomadic pressure from Central Asia pushed Germanic tribes westward Roman weakness: Failing empire created power vacuums Major Germanic Tribes & Destinations Visigoths: Romania → Spain Ostrogoths: Ukraine → Italy Vandals: Scandinavia → North Africa Anglo-Saxons: Denmark/Germany → England Franks: Netherlands region → France Consequences End of Western Roman Empire (476 AD) Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces Population replacement: Especially in England (50% Germanic ancestry) Cultural fusion: Germanic military + Latin civilization + Christianity = foundation of medieval Europe Long-term Impact Shifted European power from Mediterranean to Northern Europe Created the "Blue Banana" (England-Netherlands-Rhine-North Italy economic corridor) Set stage for medieval kingdoms and eventually modern European nations Only Byzantium survived as continuation of classical civilization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore how Western civilization shifted from a deeply religious, meaning-filled worldview to modern materialism and nihilism over the past 500 years, and discusses why this "death of God" is a global phenomenon affecting everything from birth rates to political movements. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 40,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION The Core Thesis 500-year shift from spiritual worldview to materialist nihilism affecting global civilization Not science vs. religion - it's a fundamental change in human consciousness Historical Timeline 1500s: Protestant Reformation splits religious authority 1600s: Science artificially separated from religion and mysticism 1700s: Enlightenment creates "pure reason" without context 1800s: Nietzsche predicts 20th century nihilism and tyranny 1900s-present: Complete removal of sacred from life Real Causes Elite desire to control populations without religious competition Religion became bureaucratic moral policing vs. genuine spirituality Society only values measurable, material things (left-brain dominance) Modern Consequences Global birth rate collapse and rise of substitute religions (leftism, progressivism) "Society of the last men" - glorifying weakness and mediocrity Complete disconnection from human nature and meaning The Path Forward Reintegrate science, religion, and mysticism under "natural science" Recognize this as a transitional phase - previous civilizations have recovered Humans are innately religious - when genuine religion dies, destructive substitutes fill the void Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine the Napoleonic Wars through the lens of "Great Man" versus socioeconomic theories of history. Napoleon's unprecedented military genius and institutional reforms demonstrate how individual agency can shape entire civilizations, challenging Marxist deterministic interpretations while exploring lasting political and cultural transformations across Europe. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 40,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION Main Thesis: Napoleon represents the "Great Man" theory of history vs. Marxist "socioeconomic factors" interpretation One individual's personality and will shaped an entire historical era Napoleon's Rise: From minor Corsican nobility to French artillery officer at 24 French Revolution created social mobility in military ranks Conquered Italy, became popular hero, launched coup against weak Directory Military Genius: Won more consecutive battles than almost any conqueror in history Pioneered artillery warfare and total war tactics France mobilized massive armies (200k-500k) vs. traditional 40k forces Peak Power: Crowned himself Emperor, controlled most of Western Europe Created lasting institutions: Napoleonic Code, metric system, modern legal framework His domestic reforms outlasted his military conquests Fatal Overreach: Continental System to blockade Britain economically failed Betrayed Spain (his only major ally), creating brutal guerrilla war Disastrous Russian invasion (1812) destroyed his army and myth of invincibility Downfall: Coalition of all Europe defeated him at Leipzig Briefly exiled to Elba, returned for "100 Days" Final defeat at Waterloo, died in British exile on St. Helena Legacy: His institutional reforms shaped modern Europe more than his military conquests Sparked nationalism across Europe that eventually unified Germany and Italy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze France's three distinct empires across four centuries, examining why France—despite superior geography and population—repeatedly failed to achieve lasting global dominance like Britain, cycling through spectacular rises and political collapses that prevented strategic consolidation. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess -- SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | ORACLE More than 40,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/momentofzen. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at https://oracle.com/cognitive. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION Three French Empires First Empire (1620-1765): North America Quebec to New Orleans via Great Lakes/Mississippi Founded Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, New Orleans Lost everything to Britain in Seven Years War (1763) Second Empire (1798-1815): Napoleon's Europe Continental empire from Rhine to Russia Invented "total war" concept Ended with Russian invasion disaster Third Empire (1830-1960s): Colonial Africa West Africa, Algeria, Vietnam response to Franco-Prussian War Lasted longest but economically insignificant "Strong generalist, not extreme player" - Best European geography and population, but never committed to single strategy like England (naval) or Germany (continental). Pattern: Success → Political crisis → Lost empire → Repeat. Louis XIV's Centralization: Created cultural dominance but killed regional innovation that powered England Seven Years War (1756-63): Lost North America and India to Britain in same year - "made Britain superpower, destroyed France" Franco-Prussian War (1871): Humiliation sparked Africa colonization; transformed France from militaristic to pacifist WWI: Highest casualties of major powers, shifted to pacifism WWII: Rapid defeat, Vichy collaboration created lasting national shame Lost final colonies in brutal Algerian War (1962), became junior partner to Germany in EU. Key Quote: "France is a great country, but always on the edge of breaking through the threshold the Anglo-Saxons reached... lots of thrashing about and epicness without the long-term impact of Spain, Britain, or Russia." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices