"Live Players" with Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg

The Politicization of History

20 snips
Dec 27, 2023
The hosts discuss the Bronze Age collapse and question the perception of the early Middle Ages. They explore the use of napalm by the Byzantine Empire and the complexity of historical narratives. They also examine the dynamics of centralization and decentralization, the geopolitical power dynamics among the United States, China, and Russia, and the geopolitical pressure on the United States. Additionally, they delve into Russian military tactics in the Ukraine conflict and the politicization of history.
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INSIGHT

Bronze Age Collapse and Decentralization

  • The Bronze Age Collapse demonstrates that technological backsliding can occur even in advanced civilizations.
  • Decentralization doesn't fully insure against civilizational collapse, as trade route disruptions during the Bronze Age proved.
ANECDOTE

Byzantine Greek Fire

  • The Byzantine Empire, a successor to the Romans, possessed "Greek fire," an incendiary weapon unknown to earlier Romans.
  • This illustrates technological advancement even during supposed decline, challenging historical narratives.
INSIGHT

Geopolitical Centralization and Decentralization

  • The world saw peak consolidation in 1947 under three major powers.
  • The fall of the British Empire and the Soviet Union had complex centralizing and decentralizing effects depending on the scale.
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