Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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From theories about the apocalypse to science fiction, the classical world produced some interesting theories about the future.
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This video is the first part of a collaboration with John Michael Godier. For the second part, visit: youtu.be/Rl9_SQNnj1A

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If you liked this video, you might also enjoy my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.”

amazon.com/Naked-Statues-Fat-Gladiators-Elephants/dp/1633887022

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Chapters:
0:00 Seneca and the flood
1:05 The past of the future
2:02 Cyclical theories of history
3:03 Technological progress
3:58 Trade Coffee
5:07 Romans and the Golden Age
6:01 Anxieties about decline
6:41 Early Christian ideas
8:00 Conclusions