The hottest Empires Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top History Topics

A Reading List for the End of Civilization

The Honest Broker • 9009 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
💾 History Empires
  1. A curated reading list of 22 books (part of a larger 41) is offered to help readers study societal collapse and make sense of turbulent times.
  2. The selections favor classic histories and theories of decline—works like Gibbon, Spengler, and Thucydides that trace how civilizations fall.
  3. The approach mixes old primary sources, literature, and philosophy with modern tools like game theory and data analysis, using books as tools for insight rather than proof that civilization is doomed.

The ways of empires

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 1766 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
💾 History Empires
  1. The nation-state order is failing to handle mass migration, ecological collapse, and rising inequality, while a few mega‑companies are eroding institutions and raising systemic risks.
  2. Empires have historically justified domination in different ways—religion (Europe), property and commercial plunder (Britain), law (United States), and control of nature (China)—and those ideas enabled extraction at home and abroad.
  3. Rather than disappearing, states are likely to be co-opted by techno‑feudal elites who combine technological power with the state's legal coercion to entrench control instead of expanding real power to ordinary people.

The Peculiar Institution, pt. 4

The Martyr Made Substack • 1375 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💾 History Empires
  1. The debate over history being driven by great individuals or impersonal forces reflects the dominant cultural and economic forces of an era.
  2. Spanish and Portuguese states were built for war, with institutions and structures geared towards conquest.
  3. The Spanish conquest of the New World was part of the same campaign as Europe's defense against Ottoman incursion.
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The Kaiser's Long Stare

Daily Dreher • 1552 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Empires
  1. The novel 'The Radetzky March' explores the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through three generations of the von Trotta family.
  2. The book reflects on the importance of faith in institutions and the internal decay that can lead to their downfall.
  3. The text draws parallels between historical events and the current social and political challenges, highlighting the importance of an animating spirit within a society.

Today in History: January 4-6

Foreign Exchanges • 491 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
💾 History Empires
  1. On January 4, 1878, Ottomans lost Sofia to the Russian army in a significant battle during the Russian-Ottoman War.
  2. US President Dwight Eisenhower established a doctrine on January 5, 1957, to intervene in the Middle East against Soviet influence.
  3. The last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, was crowned on January 6, 1449, before falling in the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The decline and fall of the Third British Empire

Wrong Side of History • 322 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
💾 History Empires
  1. Communism was more than just economics; it was a strong way of thinking that people believed was the only true way. When people stopped believing in it, the system began to crumble.
  2. Similar to the past, many people today are losing faith in current ideas that progressives promote, as they feel these ideas don't always work as promised.
  3. When a society lacks a strong vision or belief, it can lead to big changes in politics and culture, like what we're seeing with rising nationalisms.

Was 8th Century China Meritocratic?

The Great Gender Divergence • 157 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💾 History Empires
  1. In 8th Century China, there was a widespread belief in meritocracy and social mobility, which were endorsed by Confucius and Empress Wu Zetian.
  2. Elites might have had advantages like better education for their sons and using nepotism for promotions, which could challenge the true meritocratic nature of the system.
  3. Recent research on social mobility during the Tang Dynasty provides insights into the career paths, imperial exam pass rates, and ancestral backgrounds of individuals through tomb epitaphs.

Central Asia

kamilkazani • 314 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Empires
  1. Modern borders of Central Asia do not align with historic regions like Khorasan
  2. Central Asia was a vital trade route connecting East and West Eurasia
  3. Cultural exchanges in Central Asia influenced by historical Silk Road connections

Battle of Thermopylae (disambiguation)

Outlandish Claims • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
💾 History Empires
  1. The Battle of Thermopylae was a significant historical event where a small band of disciplined soldiers held off a large empire, emphasizing the power of conviction and unity over sheer numbers.
  2. The significance of Thermopylae transcended time, with the battle recurring six more times and impacting the fate of different empires, showcasing the lasting impact of historical events.
  3. Thermopylae also made its mark in popular culture, inspiring scenes in movies like _Lord of the Rings_ and showing how tales of heroism and sacrifice continue to resonate and influence storytelling.

The Empire's Phantom Enemies

History's Parrot • 78 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Empires
  1. The empire's enemies are considered phantoms, and its wars are seen as barbaric.
  2. Empires need to understand what they are made of, often consisting of fictional enemies and tales.
  3. It is important to know and understand the truth to move forward and solve problems.

From Genocide to the Brave New Multipolar World

History's Parrot • 78 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Empires
  1. Societies are facing collapse due to neglect, betrayal, and the concentration of power and money in the hands of a few.
  2. Neoliberalism leads to societal destruction, alienation from humanistic values, and exploitation by power elites.
  3. Genocides are not sudden events but are set in motion by societal collapses, liberal sellouts, excessive greed, and the breakdown of empathy and common sense.

Culture and Law: How Han Succeeded Where Rome Fell.

Moly’s Substack • 117 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
💾 History Empires
  1. Han Dynasty and Rome were both powerful superpowers, but Han's culture and identity had stronger lasting power than Rome's.
  2. Han Dynasty integrated Confucianism into its culture and legal code, ensuring cultural continuity and preservation.
  3. China's history and Rome's history took different paths in how they dealt with culture and law, influencing their long-term success and legacy.

The Real Yellowstone, Part I: war, corruption, and 1,000,000 acres

Becoming Noble • 139 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
💾 History Empires
  1. Conflict breeds opportunity by weakening established systems and making resources attainable by those with determination.
  2. Recognize opportunities that others may overlook, commit wholeheartedly to your vision, and be willing to endure hardships for success.
  3. In challenging and unstable environments, respect the law but be prepared to protect yourself and your interests; be proactive, expand protections, and never be naive.

Introduction: 'To Govern The Globe'

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 105 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🌍 World Politics Empires
  1. World orders are more stable than empires. They are shaped by economics, culture, and global interactions, and they can last much longer than the empires that create them.
  2. The West has a history of expansion and exploitation. This history affects how current global dynamics play out, especially between nations.
  3. Understanding these world orders helps us see where we are headed next. We need to look at past strategies and how they impact today's politics and society.

You’re so Turk and you don’t even know it

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 446 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
💾 History Empires
  1. The Turks had a unique approach to conquest, assimilating the cultures of those they conquered instead of destroying them.
  2. Turkic influence spanned over 1,500 years across vast territories, impacting cultures from Europe to China.
  3. Turks played a significant role in shaping Eurasian culture, spread Islam, and extended civilization rather than causing decline.

The Last of the Zungars - Alexander Geins, 1865

The Library of Alexandria Ultima • 9 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💾 History Empires
  1. The text discusses the fate of the Zungar empire, which clashed with the Qing Dynasty and faced challenges from Russian expansion, ultimately leading to their downfall.
  2. Russian influence in Asia is highlighted, showing how the empire impacted tribes and helped in the resettlement of peoples, showcasing their historical significance.
  3. Descriptions of encounters with the Kalmyk people, including cultural aspects and conflicts, give insight into their lives and the challenges they faced.

Cyrus the Great

Of All Trades • 4 implied HN points • 03 May 23
💾 History Empires
  1. Cyrus the Great stood out among brutal leaders of his time by showing wisdom and compassion in his rule.
  2. Cyrus' enlightened approach to leadership included religious tolerance, respecting customs of conquered peoples, and using unique levels of clemency.
  3. Cyrus' model of delegation, strategic vision, and legacy of just rule can inspire modern leaders in areas like empowering subordinates and balancing centralization with decentralization.