Here's my conversation with Gregory Aldrete, a historian specializing in ancient Rome and military history. We talk all about the Roman Empire: its rise and fall, major battles & leaders, military technology & tactics, gladiators, politics, laws, economy, religion. I will do many more episodes on history (interviews &... solo). If we don't understand our past, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes that many before us have paid a heavy price for. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:23 - Ancient world 16:18 - Three phases of Roman history 19:08 - Rome's expansion 30:48 - Punic wars 39:20 - Conquering Greece 40:59 - Scipio vs Hannibal 44:05 - Heavy infantry vs Cavalry 47:42 - Armor 1:00:32 - Alexander the Great 1:06:33 - Roman law 1:16:13 - Slavery 1:23:53 - Fall of the Roman Republic 1:27:38 - Julius Caesar 1:32:17 - Octavian's rise 1:42:09 - Cleopatra 1:50:32 - Augustus 2:18:42 - Religion in Rome 2:42:47 - Emperors 2:49:54 - Marcus Aurelius 2:56:05 - Taxes 2:59:13 - Fall of the Roman Empire 3:16:25 - Decisive battles 3:40:35 - Hopeshow more

Here's the links for my conversation with Gregory Aldrete: YouTube: Transcript: Podcast:

Unfortunately the majority of Americans don’t care about history and just want their daily injection of entertainment from the newly developing nanny state. Doomed to repeat over and over…

We must teach History and Civics to our young in grade school and high school- or lose our country❗️

Amazing talk so far, your podcasts always get me through my cardio sessions and for that, I thank you🙏

Rome's success stemmed from its military might, political structure, legal system, economic control, cultural assimilation, and infrastructure. Its fall was due to economic decline, military issues, political instability, social decay, health crises, administrative overload, and cultural shifts. The lesson: empires rise and fall through a mix of internal strength and external pressures. #HistoryLessons #RomanEmpire

I can’t wait to watch Lex. I’ll keep thanking you every time you post for doing what you do.

Rome is literally one of the most important things to learn about…

The Romans practiced a form of ancestor remembrance (probably derived from ancient human ancestor worship), where they would cherish their ancestors as far as hundreds of years back. When a Roman died, the family would pour hot wax on their face and keep the mold as a remembrance of them, acting as a photograph of sorts of the deceased person. Roman children would be able to visually identify their ancestors, and were forced to learn all of the accomplishments of them. What positions in society they held, what battles they participated in, what accomplishments they achieved. When somebody new died in the family, they would all talk about their ancestors achievements. The kids in the family would wear the masks of the ancestors in the funeral procession, symbolizing a continuous line of family, an unbroken line of life and death, stretching back hundreds of years.

Ancient Rome 👀

Probably one of the reasons the motto absolute power corrupts absolutely didn't affect Marcus Aurelius at a young age where he avoided the mistakes of his predecessors is due to being warned about Julius Caesar. He was warned to avoid the purple cloth and in a way practically went in the opposite direction of Julius. Sleeping on the floor, serving the role alongside Lucius, and asking the people to provide their honest opinion even if they thought he wouldn't like it. He was an advocate for the concept of free speech and free thought. It led to his musings in "Meditations" thanks to the knowledge passed down to him about the fate of Julius and the poison of hubris when he was young. A lot of "Meditations" is still relevant too! It's a great source of reflection that can help any little philosophers out there in future generations! 🙂