Ep 10. The End. The Beginning

In Crash Course season 1 episode 10, titled "The End. The Beginning," host John Green takes a closer look at how societies can collapse and how new ones can emerge. He begins by discussing the fall of the western Roman Empire and the factors that contributed to its decline, such as internal decay, external pressure, and military failures.

From there, John explores the idea of civilizational cycles, where societies experience periods of growth, maturity, decline, and collapse. He examines the work of historian Arnold Toynbee, who identified 21 separate civilizations and their patterns of growth and decline.

John also delves into the concept of hindsight bias and how historical tragedies can seem inevitable in retrospect. He argues that understanding why civilizations collapse is important to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.

Towards the end of the episode, John turns his attention to examples of civilization building. He discusses how societies can rebound and reinvent themselves, using the examples of the Islamic Golden Age and the rise of the Aztec Empire.

Overall, "The End. The Beginning" is a thought-provoking episode that grapples with big questions about the fate of societies. John's engaging style and accessible explanations make it a great watch for anyone interested in history or current events.