Today we're dropping a special episode of History 102 with Rudyard Lynch (@Whatifalthist on YouTube). Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg delve into the critical moments and competing narratives of the fall of the Roman Empire. They compare the classical Greeks and Romans, identify key Roman figures and outsiders who impacted the course of history, and identify the major influences that shaped their era - and our current one.

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Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns

Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,

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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

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RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
The World of Late Antiquity: AD 150-750 (Library of World Civilization) by Peter Brown
Empires and Barbarians: The Fall of Rome and the Birth of Europe by Peter Heather

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LINKS:

Samo’s Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

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FOLLOW US ON X:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@samoburja (Samo)

@whatifalthist (Rudyard)

@turpentinemedia (Turpentine)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction to History 102's The Fall of Rome

(00:14) Context and Theories

(03:11) The Rise of Rome: From Village to Empire

(24:52) The Huns' Invasion and Its Impact

(40:06) Post-Roman Empire: The Birth of New Civilizations

(48:04) Reflecting on Rome's Legacy and Modern Comparisons

(52:02) Recommended Reading

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