Rise of Rome

"History 102" with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg

In this episode of History 102, Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg explore the rise of Rome, from its origins as a small settlement in Central Italy to becoming a dominant force in the known world, drawing parallels between historical events and modern-day societal patterns. They discuss themes of decadence, social cohesion, and the cyclical nature of civilizations.

-

SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | PLUMB

Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “MOZ” for 20% off your first three months

Plumb is a no-code AI app builder designed for product teams who care about quality and speed. What is taking you weeks to hand-code today can be done confidently in hours. Check out https://bit.ly/PlumbTCR for early access.

–

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,

Spotify

Apple

–

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 [e-mail].

–

FOLLOW ON X:

@whatifalthist (Rudyard)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@TurpentineMedia

–

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:26) Rise of Rome

(02:02) The Influence of Greek Civilization on the Latins

(05:09) The Romans: From City-State to Empire

(16:41) Sponsors: Harmonic | Plumb

(36:13) The Punic Wars: Rome's Defining Battles

(48:35) Rome's Expansion East and the Fall of Carthage

(54:12) Reflections and Recommendations on Roman History

(56:25) Closing Thoughts and Next Episode Teaser

(56:09) Wrap

–

Recommended Books:

• Will Durant's Caesar and Christ: A History of Roman Civilization and of Christianity from Their Beginnings to A.D. 325 (Story of Civilization)
• Greg Woolf's Rome: An Empire's Story
• Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges' The Ancient City: A Study of the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome
• Tom Holland's Rubicon

Recommended Podcast:

• Dan Carlin's Hardcore History 21-23 – Punic Nightmares Series