The young philosopher Marcus Aurelius agreed to become ruler of the Roman empire, but he's not happy about it. We discuss why  he was so reluctant to be imbued with unlimited wealth and power, and some of the unusual steps he took to keep himself humble, including giving up sole rule.

The young philosopher Marcus Aurelius agreed to become ruler of the Roman empire, but he's not happy about it. We discuss why he was so reluctant to be imbued with unlimited wealth and power, and some of the unusual steps he took to keep himself humble, including giving up sole rule.

E1.1 Kingdom of Iron and Rust

The Turning Wheel covers the pivot points of human history, and the fascinating questions that underlie our civilization. Our special emphases are when civilizations made big shifts, without anyone really realizing it. Humans may fight these changes, but they often lose. 

From Marcus Aurelius's rule during the twilight years of the Pax Romana to city planning errors in the 20th century shaping how we live today, we cover a lot of ground. 

Support the podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurningWheel

History

The Turning Wheel covers the pivot points of human history, and the fascinating questions that underlie our civilization. Our special emphases are when civilizations made big shifts, without anyone really realizing it. Humans may fight these changes, but they often lose. From Marcus Aurelius's rule during the twilight years of the Pax Romana to city planning errors in the 20th century shaping how we live today, we cover a lot of ground. Support the podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurningWheel

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E1.1 Kingdom of Iron and Rust

E1.1 Kingdom of Iron and Rust