It's no secret that men are fascinated with the Roman Empire. Tales of battle, glory, and reign ignite our passion and enthusiasm for exerting our will against our enemies and for the benefit of those we lead. But these tales aren't just an entertaining insight into the way men's minds work – they're also cautionary regarding how every once-great civilization has fallen.

Today, I'm joined by Jeremy Ryan Slate to discuss what makes men so attracted to the Roman Empire, in what ways the United States in following in its ill-fated footsteps (and, in which ways it isn't), lessons we can learn from monetary policy, political aspirations, wars and conquests, and how we can avoid the fate (or, at least prolong) every great civilization has eventually faced.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and setup 00:58 - Technical issues and restart 04:07 - Why men are fascinated by the Roman Empire 07:45 - Monetary policy, inflation, and control in Rome 13:50 - The rise of Julius Caesar and fall of the Republic 21:18 - Augustus and the birth of the Roman Empire 25:00 - Power, propaganda, and lessons from history 28:43 - Modern parallels: populism, media, and literacy 34:06 - Social programs, dependency, and autonomy 36:10 - The real reasons Rome fell 40:20 - Immigration, loyalty, and national identity 43:03 - Decadence, morality, and the weakening of men 46:47 - How modern men can preserve the Republic 48:04 - Closing thoughts and where to find Jeremy Slate

Battle Planners: Pick yours up today!

Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto.

For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood.

Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt