Paul of Tarsus, Messiah of Rome
Why are the teachings of Jesus and his apostle Paul so different? Jesus preached compassion and mercy towards all, while Paul preached that Jesus was the son of God who atoned for our sins with his sa...
24 Touko 55min
Constantine's Monotheistic Revolution
Professor Jiang Xueqin argues that the idea of monotheism launched modernity.At the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, the bishops of the Roman Empire had to decide on the relationship between God and Jesus...
24 Touko 56min
Augustine's Empire of God
Professor Jiang Xueqin explains why Europe experienced the Dark Ages.After Rome was sacked in 410 CE, Europe experienced a crisis of faith. Were the Pagan Gods taking vengeance? Did Christianity preac...
24 Touko 52min
Muhammad's Revolution of God
Who was the historical Muhammad? How did Islam triumph over both the Byzantine and Sasanian empires? In this talk to his Chinese high school students, Professor Jiang Xueqin argues that Islam was the ...
24 Touko 47min
Dante's Divine Comedy and the Liberation of the Human Imagination
Professor Jiang Xueqin explains that Dante's Divine Comedy was the intellectual blueprint for the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution.In a previous lecture, we explo...
24 Touko 47min
Dante as the Second Coming of Homer
Professor Jiang explains the enduring influence of Dante.Dante recognized that if he is to succeed in birthing a new European mind he must displace Vergil's Aeneid. To do this, Dante makes Vergil into...
24 Touko 1h
The Oceanic Currents of History
Traditionally, we have understood historical movement as either a line or a circle. We are either progressing towards the truth, or trapped in an endless loop. In this talk to his Chinese high school ...
24 Touko 1h 10min
Rome's Rise, Fall, and Legacy
How was Rome able to defeat all its powerful enemies in the Mediterranean world? Why did Rome decline and fall? What is Rome's influence on the world today? What lessons can we learn from it? Professo...
24 Touko 1h 6min
