Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
#illuminati #alternatehistoween
The real, historical Illuminati is vastly different from the imagined one found in modern conspiracy theories. In reality they were a collection of freethinkers who shared the goal of spreading Enlightenment era ideas throughout Europe and overthrowing the old feudal order. This video asks: what if they were successful?
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Who were the Illuminati?
04:45 The Illuminati conspiracy theory
06:15 What if the Illuminati were never exposed?
07:56 The New World Order
09:09 Anti-Illuminati America
10:39 Join the club...or else!
12:02 Conclusion
Email: ahwupdate at gmail dot com
BlueSky: @althistorian.bsky.social
Patreon: patreon.com/mattmitrovich
SOURCES:
B. Waterman, "The Bavarian Illuminati, the Early American Novel, and Histories of the Public Sphere" The William and Mary Quarterly (2005) jstor.org/stable/3491620
Behind the Bastards, "Part One: A Complete History of the Illuminati" YouTube (2023) youtu.be/ruCpCOnhArI?si=F8b54LwfcMWZeyL2
Behind the Bastards, "Part Two: A Complete History of the Illuminati" YouTube (2023) youtu.be/9gqcIzZ1bFY?si=JOQ9dtCjsP_cNLBn
C. Shultz, "The Enduring Fictional Legacy Of The Illuminati, America's Favorite Conspiracy Theory" Lit Reactor (2018) litreactor.com/columns/the-enduring-fictional-legacy-of-the-illuminati-americas-favorite-conspiracy-theory
E. Williams, "Who were the Illuminati – and how can you join them?" History Extra (2025) historyextra.com/period/georgian/illuminati-13-questions-secret-society-hisotry-facts-eye-join-conspiracy-world-domination
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, The, "illuminati." Encyclopedia Britannica, (2025). britannica.com/topic/illuminati-group-designation
Extra History, "The Illuminati | Secret Societies 2 | European History | Extra History" YouTube (2024) youtu.be/8_JXIXkDE4s?si=5NW_chcrVoPgUhhD
Great Courses, The, "The Illuminati and The Occult — Historian Answers all Your Questions" YouTube (2022) youtu.be/rivghBGF8ac?si=lXb-EUM8oJKTqL6o
Great Courses, The, "They're Watching You! | The History of the Illuminati" YouTube (2021) youtu.be/ZaNvoO7TTqU?si=02xzq3Gyr9GKkM3C
M. Vickery, "The birthplace of the Illuminati" BBC (2017) bbc.com/travel/article/20171127-the-birthplace-of-the-illuminati
S. Miller, "Illuminati" EBSCO (2022) ebsco.com/research-starters/history/illuminati
"Unveiling the Illuminati: The Real Society Behind the Myths and Conspiracy Theories" BBC. bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1GWYXFlC0yHh98m6qVzSxwV/unveiling-the-illuminati-the-real-society-behind-the-myths-and-conspiracy-theories
#illuminati #alternatehistoween
The real, historical Illuminati is vastly different from the imagined one found in modern conspiracy theories. In reality they were a collection of freethinkers who shared the goal of spreading Enlightenment era ideas throughout Europe and overthrowing the old feudal order. This video asks: what if they were successful?
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Who were the Illuminati?
04:45 The Illuminati conspiracy theory
06:15 What if the Illuminati were never exposed?
07:56 The New World Order
09:09 Anti-Illuminati America
10:39 Join the club...or else!
12:02 Conclusion
Email: ahwupdate at gmail dot com
BlueSky: @althistorian.bsky.social
Patreon: patreon.com/mattmitrovich
SOURCES:
B. Waterman, "The Bavarian Illuminati, the Early American Novel, and Histories of the Public Sphere" The William and Mary Quarterly (2005) jstor.org/stable/3491620
Behind the Bastards, "Part One: A Complete History of the Illuminati" YouTube (2023) youtu.be/ruCpCOnhArI?si=F8b54LwfcMWZeyL2
Behind the Bastards, "Part Two: A Complete History of the Illuminati" YouTube (2023) youtu.be/9gqcIzZ1bFY?si=JOQ9dtCjsP_cNLBn
C. Shultz, "The Enduring Fictional Legacy Of The Illuminati, America's Favorite Conspiracy Theory" Lit Reactor (2018) litreactor.com/columns/the-enduring-fictional-legacy-of-the-illuminati-americas-favorite-conspiracy-theory
E. Williams, "Who were the Illuminati – and how can you join them?" History Extra (2025) historyextra.com/period/georgian/illuminati-13-questions-secret-society-hisotry-facts-eye-join-conspiracy-world-domination
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, The, "illuminati." Encyclopedia Britannica, (2025). britannica.com/topic/illuminati-group-designation
Extra History, "The Illuminati | Secret Societies 2 | European History | Extra History" YouTube (2024) youtu.be/8_JXIXkDE4s?si=5NW_chcrVoPgUhhD
Great Courses, The, "The Illuminati and The Occult — Historian Answers all Your Questions" YouTube (2022) youtu.be/rivghBGF8ac?si=lXb-EUM8oJKTqL6o
Great Courses, The, "They're Watching You! | The History of the Illuminati" YouTube (2021) youtu.be/ZaNvoO7TTqU?si=02xzq3Gyr9GKkM3C
M. Vickery, "The birthplace of the Illuminati" BBC (2017) bbc.com/travel/article/20171127-the-birthplace-of-the-illuminati
S. Miller, "Illuminati" EBSCO (2022) ebsco.com/research-starters/history/illuminati
"Unveiling the Illuminati: The Real Society Behind the Myths and Conspiracy Theories" BBC. bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1GWYXFlC0yHh98m6qVzSxwV/unveiling-the-illuminati-the-real-society-behind-the-myths-and-conspiracy-theories
