The Historian LEX FRIDMAN Interviewed Is WILD

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Link to the original podcast episode I'm responding to.

On this video I react and provide commentary to the new episode of Lex Fridman podcast dedicated to Roman history with his guest historian Gregory Aldrete.

The Roman Empire stands as one of the most influential and enduring civilizations in world history. From its humble beginnings as a small city-state to its zenith as a vast empire spanning three continents, Rome's legacy continues to shape the modern world in countless ways.
Rome's history is traditionally divided into three main periods: the Kingdom, the Republic, and the Empire. The Kingdom period, spanning from the legendary founding of Rome in 753 BC to 509 BC, was a time of monarchical rule. During this era, Rome was governed by kings and began to establish itself as a significant power in the Italian peninsula. The period ended with the overthrow of the last king, Tarquinius Superbus, and the establishment of the Roman Republic.
The Republican era, lasting from 509 BC to 27 BC, saw Rome evolve into a complex political entity governed by a system of checks and balances. Power was distributed among various institutions, including the Senate, consuls, and tribunes. This period witnessed Rome's expansion beyond the Italian peninsula, conquering territories across the Mediterranean. The Republic faced numerous challenges, including social unrest, slave rebellions, and civil wars, ultimately leading to its transformation into an empire.
The Imperial period, beginning in 27 BC with the reign of Augustus, marked Rome's transition to rule by emperors. This era saw the greatest territorial extent of Roman power, encompassing vast swathes of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The Empire reached its peak during the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and prosperity lasting about two centuries. However, internal strife, economic difficulties, and external pressures eventually led to the Empire's division and gradual decline, with the Western Roman Empire falling in AD 476.
Throughout these periods, Rome's military played a crucial role in its rise, maintenance of power, and eventual fall. The Roman army was one of the most effective fighting forces in ancient history, known for its discipline, organization, and adaptability.
In its early days, the Roman military consisted of citizen-soldiers who served seasonally. As Rome expanded, it developed a more professional standing army. The basic unit of the Roman legion, the cohort, typically consisted of 480 men divided into six centuries. Legions were supported by auxiliary units, often composed of non-Roman citizens who brought specialized skills such as archery or cavalry.
Roman military success was built on several factors. First, their tactics and formations, such as the famous testudo (tortoise) formation, were highly effective. Second, Roman engineering skills allowed them to construct roads, bridges, and siege engines that gave them significant advantages in warfare. Third, their ability to adapt and incorporate useful elements from conquered peoples' military practices kept their army at the cutting edge.
The Roman navy also played a crucial role, especially in securing control over the Mediterranean Sea. This naval dominance was essential for maintaining supply lines and projecting power across the empire.
Roman military prowess was not limited to battlefield tactics. They excelled in logistics, maintaining supply lines across vast distances, and in siege warfare, developing advanced techniques and machinery for taking fortified positions.
The Roman military was also a vehicle for social mobility and cultural assimilation. Soldiers from across the empire served together, spreading Roman culture and values. Veterans were often rewarded with land in newly conquered territories, helping to Romanize these areas.
However, as the empire expanded, it became increasingly reliant on foreign mercenaries and faced challenges in maintaining loyalty and discipline among its troops. This, combined with external pressures from Germanic tribes and other forces, contributed to the eventual decline of Roman military power.
In conclusion, the Roman Empire's journey through the Kingdom, Republic, and Imperial periods represents a remarkable arc of political and social evolution. Its military, a cornerstone of Roman power and expansion, reflects the innovation, adaptability, and organizational prowess that characterized Roman civilization. The legacy of Rome, particularly its military achievements, continues to fascinate and influence the world today, offering valuable lessons in strategy, organization, and the complex relationship between military power and political stability.
#lexfridmanpodcast #ancientrome #lexfridman

[metatronyt]

Link to my new Interactive Adventure

Link to the original podcast episode I'm responding to.

[lexfridman]

Thank you for analyzing this episode. I learned a lot 👊

[munkay_magickstudios]

Im soo happy you did a video on this when Lex announced he was going to do a pod on the Roman Empire and i was scream typing METATRON! into his comment section

[jabronisauce]

He’d no idea why caesars men followed Octavian.
He puts it down to him adopting Caesars name and not the fact he immediately promised to fulfil Caesars promises and then did pay out of his own pocket which got him immense loyalty from the legions with other factors.

[ilijas]

The professor has mastered the skill of streamlining huge complex topics and presenting them in the way that primarily aims to trigger the interest among rookies and people not really interested in history in a way you and I are.
And he did an amazing job narrating the course about Rome and antiquity in Great Courses Plus.
That format discourages disclaimers and constant mentions of conflicting sources.
I think most of the criticism can go towards this narrative style he developed. For us history buffs it may sound a bit vanilla, but you have to respect the man who talks for 3 hours and still retains attention of very demanding audience (counting myself there)

[JeffNeelzebub]

I know you’re doing episodes, but one thing he said at the very end of the podcast needs special attention: he said that Alexander “failed” in Afghanistan. This is modern propaganda. He founded a Greco-Roman slash Greco-Indian civilization that lasted 300 years after his death. If that’s a failure then I wanna know what success looks like.

[adairjanney]

people literally think Hannibal was a black dude, it amazes me what people will believe

[lingoistj]

“Progress is change, but not all change is progress.”

[yyoksetioxd]

I really liked that Lex episode so thank you for covering it on the channel.

[generallyuninterested]

The Fall of Civiluzations channel did one on -I think the Assyrians... and there was this one tablet they translated I'll never forget from a teenager away at scribe school who wrote to his mother about how his clothes weren't as cool as the other kids and how she must not love him... like LITERALLY some things never change in humanity.

[fibanocci]

The idea that small town farmers "never saw art" is also classist. People make art, everywhere, throughout time. Did they see famous artists that people learn about today? Maybe not. But they SAW ART.

[premiumfruits]

When historians and scientists are also political activists, that's when you know the downward spiral is inescapable.

edit: a lot of people are misunderstanding my post, but I guess that's my fault for it being a little ambiguous
I'm talking about the recent swath of "historians" that are going around teaching verifiably incorrect history for political reasons, for example, the infamous black "historian" lady that said "my mom told me, I don't care what anyone tells you, Cleopatra was black", and that one Japanese "historian" that was recently completely deleted from Japanese records because it was discovered he was making up a bunch of history about Yasuke, again for political reasons, and also that militant feminist "archaeologist" that found a female skeleton next to a spear then proceeded to build an entire career preaching that females were hunters in caveman times
I know history is political, and I have no problem with that, my problem is when it's erased, revised, or taught incorrectly on purpose for political reasons

[manow]

I had you in mind when I watched this interview😂😂

[ThatGuyz]

"One afternoon Hannibal kills about 60, 000... Liberty Mutual customers..."

Nice commercial transition.

[kimg]

“Never traveled” and always stayed home. That is a weird statement - even very remote areas usually have traditions to travel at least once a year to trade cows/sheep’s - mixed with religious events and theatre. Now that might be only a few per village (or many if all the fighting age men will attend) so in a given year most might stay in villages - but not throughout a lifetime.

[zacharyclark]

"Everyone should be an activist" was what I heard, not all the time, but frequently while I was in college from certain professors, certain social media directed towards my demographic (young adults, usually in college). I also heard people, students and teachers, say "everything is political" which means that everything has an impact on political goals (hindering or helping), and that since everything has an impact on politics then everything should be seen through a political lens.

I admit that everything does have political impact, and you can see everything through the lens of politics, but I disagree that the conclusion should be always viewing things with a political lens. If everything becomes political, every statement, every decision, is treated as having political intent, then everything begins to feel like politics. When people act politically, they tend to see everything (and everyone) as a political tool for advancing themselves and/or their political goals (or the political goals dictated by the "Party" or "Movement" etc. Intentions then are seen as a charade to get something, not what they appear to be on the surface. And as the political trends change, so do people who are deep into the political lifestyle (mostly politicians, but also people who live by the maxim: "Everything is Political"). They have to change their values and outward behavior to show solidarity and support for the cause, even if it means contradicting themselves and putting aside lifelong values they've cherished. The sole purpose, the sole virtue is driving forward the political machine. Marching on to victory not matter the cost. Unless they realize that they've gotten in too deep.

Not everyone who follows politics or expresses political opinions are like this, but this extreme behavior is being pushed as normal and virtuous, but I believe it places the political party/movement above any other morals and values, which concerns me. Political parties are not exempt from being co-opted by people whose goals are not conducive to morality and truth.

[vegetto]

I kept commenting about this on other videos. Can't wait to watch your video

[jl]

This episode of Lex Fridman's podcast is probably one of my favorites. I think the historian Gregory Aldrete is a very knowledgable and interesting guest. Most of the major events he talked about I already knew something about but some of the details he provided were new to me. I really enjoy your commentary on this podcast and largely agree with most of your differences with the professor, especially his contention that the Romans were oppressed by their history, . I know this is not completely true because of how much adaptation the Romans made in their military tactics and weaponry. They were constantly evolving and learning from their enemies. I look forward to hearing more of your commentary on this Roman history podcast.

[jensphiliphohmann]

I love this format.
It's kinda delayed dialogue which in my opinion is much better than a life debate because everyone has time to think out a response.

[zzzaaayyynnn]

I watched this interview on Friedman's channel. The prof didn't say anything not aimed at a mainstream US audience knowing almost nothing about the Roman Empire. There is something sophomoric about the exchange in this interview. Was nice of Lex to dedicate an episode to history for a change.