Predictive History - The Story of "Civilization", "Secret History", "Game Theory" and more - Civilization BONUS - Meet the Students

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

Civilization BONUS - Meet the Students

Okay, so we are doing a special session of this class, called me the students. Now, I've been overwhelmed by the positive response online on YouTube, so thank you so much for watching this channel and leaving comments and subscribing. I really appreciate it. It's just positive feedback for the work I do. So there's been a lot of questions online about this class and who I am. So I'm going to do two separate videos. The first video is I'm going to introduce you to my students, Echo, Amber, and Siti. And then in another video, I'm going to talk about myself, okay?

But this video is really about my students and their impressions of this class and how it has benefited them. I'm not free to tell people what the school is, okay? Because this is in China, and there's some things that I say in this class. are sensitive. So I do not want to get my school in trouble, so we will not mention the school in this video, but my students will tell you about their impressions of taking this class. Okay? So my first question is for Si Qi. Now, Siqi was my class, not this year, but last year. So last year, there's a different version of this class where the first semester I taught the great books. Since semester, I taught geopolitics. Okay? And Siti has an interesting background

because you were in Germany for a few years and your father is professor of Emmanuel Kahn at Qinghua so you've encountered this sort of teaching before okay so my first question to you is let's talk about the great books what were your favorite great books and why were they such and why did you enjoy them so much can you speak in on mic please so two of the most memorable books I I can think of are the Eliot and Dante Sanferno. I really liked the Eliad already before the class, where I had read a simpler version,

since it's a really popular book, and there has been many adaptations over the years. But in this class was the first time I really more in-depth looked into the content of it. And I think that this class provided me a lot of new insights into the book and the kind of different backgrounds, especially also.

into the culture of the time with the kings and small kingdoms and cities and things like that. I remember afterwards we had also taken a look at the Eniad, the Iniad being of course from the Roman period, a very different period, which also took inspiration from the Indian and it was really interesting seeing the contrasting cultures of both the Greek and the Roman culture, especially with in this class, I had already encountered the Eniades, I had already encountered the Eniades as well before, but in this class we also talked about how much the in-yat was taking as a propaganda piece at the time. So that was also really interesting to see. And with Dante's Inferno, I had heard about it quite a lot many times before, but I never really had the chance to look into it. So I was really happy when we decided to start reading it and

taking such an in-depth look into specific parts of the book was really very fun. So I want to ask you about these books. How do they change your understanding of yourself and your relationship with the world, do you think? So a few key series, ideas that I remember from last year, the idea of game theory and the idea of imagination. So in both of three of these books, the idea of imagination is really important for you. For example, with the I remember it was one of the first big works of imagination that we really have. Where it developed imagination over the times afterwards a lot with such a very description of a story. It really pushed people to the limit of what they could imagine and it really changed them.

So it was really interesting learning about that and it definitely changed my view on how people perceive the world around them and how we for ourselves for example have very different perceptions from everyone are around us of course there's also the idea of game theory where everyone does things according to certain situations and conditions that they face and it really like helps you think about why certain people do something and why certain conditions exist yeah so is it fair to say that reading these books have made you more curious about the world and I mean have made you more observant about the world around you?

Yeah, I would definitely say that it's made me more curious. I've already initially had a big interest in literature and ancient history. So these books kind of res sparked this enthusiasm of learning more about it. I afterwards also looked a bit more into these books myself and even looked into a bit surrounding books. So it was really helpful in expanding my horizon in this topic. Thank you so much. So ECHO and Amber are in my class this year. And this year, we did something crazy and insane,

which is we're just the entirety of human history, right? We're from the Ice Age up to today, which is the American Empire. So I want to ask you both, okay, ECHO and Amber. The first question is, how do you feel about it? history now that we've covered all the major episodes of human history and second of all how has learning history change your understanding of the world we live in today okay so these are two big questions you can answer one or both first question I think with this course really gave me a lot of insights on

it was like how there are things certain things that we take for granted that are kind of changed or challenged in this course. Like for instance, I remember the very first class that we did was on like how humanity transitioned from like the hunter-gatherer to an agricultural society. And so that idea of the agricultural society being more stable was like kind of the modern view on this issue that we often take for granted. But like what we learn from this class is that religion actually has a lot of influence on this transition. Like how setting down was really beneficial for practicing religions and rituals and as a huge factor

that shapes this transition. So I think my understanding of history has been challenged quite a lot of ways in this course in terms of, it challenges me to think deeper into the things that we viewed from a modern society or like the view that we take for granted yeah great thanks so thank you thank you okay my turn um i think for the first question what is the history that we learned from this class i think firstly is that uh for for the education except formal and like middle school or something else history is more like about what happening before and simply uh the events the time the person But I think in this course it's more like an intersectionality between the politics, economic and

Civilization culture stuff like this and actually when you see the complexity of the civilization and also What I wanted to also credit to echo what saying is that a very very important insight from this history class is that the power of religion or saying that not maybe particular a religion with ritual with doctrine but more like how belief is impact to the people, to the community, to the society. And also to talking about what changed my mind, I think a very important part is that history is not linear sometimes, is that not being, like, always been improved, and it's actually more about people's will, believe their choice at the current situation, and it's Let me think about, especially I want to talk about a very, I think significant class is about the Inca Empire, is that you mentioned about like, we learn from the death, we learn from the past, we learn from the mistakes we have made.

So I think from this point of view, I'm more thinking about like history is like a book about making a mistake and we learn from the experience instead of to say, that history is always being grand, excellence, and that. Great, thank you, thank you so much, okay? So, great, thank you so much. My next question is, I want you to reflect and think back to this course, this one year, okay? And tell me, at one point,

what did I say or what did I teach you that was like more shocking to you? And when you heard it, you were like, you were kind of stunned or shocked. And this is such, do you have a moment like this? During this course, when I said something, you're like, this is just completely shocking. And the wall doing to me. Okay, how will you echo? Yeah, like, for me, that goes back to the classroom where we talk about religion.

One idea that you mentioned was, like, people are, like, all human beings are fundamentally religious. And that was quite shocking because for me, I kind of like, I don't personally believe in any religion. And I kind of reflecting on my own life, religion seems like pretty far away. And like it's quite being denied by our society right now. And like by learning about the history of like the Greeks and like the Romans and all that kind of stuff, like what I realized is that the most creative societies were those that praised the poets and all those like theaters the most. And that's like how the great celebrated Homer and like that's really the part that makes us human. And so going back to the idea of being religious, that idea is kind of denied in this modern society, which values rationality over these fundamental aspects that makes us human.

And so, like, we read part of the poems and, like, the literatures, and that really makes me, like, resonate with me in terms of, like, after such a long time in history. But that connection and emotion that we share as human beings are just irreplaceable. Great, thank you so much. Amber? I'm like very agree with what ECHO said because religion, or something religious belief is a very important, have lots of a percentage in our course. And one argument is very insightful for me during the classes that people actually sometimes want to live in a dream instead of to face the reality.

I think this actually explains a lot of my confusion to the past or saying to my life in other aspects. And also, like, another point is that when you talk about lots of celebrity in the history, you think, you will stay in that sometimes their internal logic is to make them becoming the god. This is also a kind of like a very, very new way to interpret these people's their logic and strategies. Because as Ico-Sel, we live in China, we don't have like a very united religious belief.

So these stuff are usually being far from our life. But from such kind of like a lecture, I think actually let me know more about, even though we seemly do transverse. to more than society, we're actually still using a lot of the experience from the past. We are still credits or say respect to the history, even sometimes we're not aware of. Yeah, so you said something really important, okay? I want to paraphrase what you said.

But the idea that you present is maybe in China we are too utitarian, and so that prevents us from achieving greatness. If you look at all the people we've studied before, like Napoleon, they achieve greatness. They achieved greatness because they want to be God. They had faith in themselves, and they were achieving these grand visions. And maybe in China we lack these sort of people, and we lack that sort of spirit. Yeah. Okay. So what I can directly think of when I'm thinking of shocking ideas is that when we were reading the Enion,

through the whole reading of it, I actually thought it was quite a nice book. and contrary to what I ended up on. Throughout the book, it seemed pretty normal for me, but at the very end, in the very last lesson about it, I remember that you told us about how it's actually a piece of propaganda from the Romans to implant these ideas of duty and things like that into the reader's minds or the audience's minds.

And right there and then I realized a lot of the things are truly well happening. throughout the entire book, where, for example, the main character just has this motivation for the greater good instead of for himself, which loses his personality in his pursuit of these goals. And I think it's really important of these things where we, in the beginning, don't see past certain ways of propaganda, if you would say so. And I think it really was a very shocking moment for me where I realized, like, throughout this entire

period of reading this book. It was right in front of our eyes, but because it was so well hidden, it was just so hard to notice. So it was a really, really big part that I still remember today. Great. Thank you so much. So as a teacher, I just feel so gratified that you've enjoyed this course. But also, I can see that it's changed all of you for the better. It's made you more curious. It's made you more observance, made you more critical. And you're able to take these ideas and reflect back on your society around the society around you and question it further okay which is which is my objective to begin with so I feel extremely gratified thank you so much okay now another question is there's lots of people online who are just curious you guys are

training students you're excellent training students uh city is going to Germany for university Amber and I go to America so people want to hear you are the future of China what are your class what do you want to study university what what what do you want to do what do you want to do you how do you see your career at your trajectory in your life trajectory okay so maybe we'll start with echo I'm going to Carlson's College as the United States so if you're card and say hi okay yeah like and this is September and I applied as like an undecided major because I want to explore more especially like history and sociology

and like maybe psychology and in all kinds of areas. Because like especially in this class, what I think it's really valuable is that you talk multiple perspectives and like viewing history as a whole, like how geopolitics impacts like historical development and like some of the psychological aspects as well as a lot of like interconnected disciplines. So I really wanted to explore more about them.

So I'm not sure what my major would be. Perfect answer, perfect answer. I'm going to New York University for liberal studies. So say hi to Amber. Say hi to New York City. So the program I apply is basically about the all about liberal arts and humanitize. So I have already registered for courses about antiquity and writing and also history and politics.

So this class is preparation for? Yes, definitely for college, yeah. And for future plan, actually quite a note because I haven't participated to the college yet. But definitely, I will still want to do something for my hometown and society. And whatever, because I'm besides a fan of history, I'm also like a feminist, and they all know that.

So I might do something like for feminism, gender studies, and also with like history and humanitized. I think this is the part that we are currently not very valuable or encouraged in Chinese society, and I hope it can be aligned again. Great. Thank you. So I'm thinking of going back to Germany. Well, since applications are finished yet, I'm not quite sure where I'll be going, but. It's probably in the state of Button-Wittenberg. I'm planning on either studying history or philosophy.

I think I'm going to likely pursue it as far as I can, maybe into a PhD. And for future plans, it's going to be a long time still, so I'm not that sure yet. But I am hoping that since culture and education is very different from China, to Europe, especially Germany. And I think it's important to have a combination of cultures

to be able to see things from very different perspectives. So I possibly will return to China with the knowledge I've gained in Europe. And it's not really about imposing Western ideas on Chinese society, but rather a combination of it, and maybe it will help with having more different views on society and different issues. Okay. Great. So fantastic. Okay. I mean, just hearing your answers. I know all three of three of you will be very successful in university and you will achieve all that you aim for. You guys are smart, observant, hardworking. You guys are going to be very successful in life. All right. So I have to be faith in all three of you. Okay. My last question. And it's a hard question. And feel free. You don't have to answer it, okay, but I want to ask you this question. Because I think a lot of people online are just curious.

How do you see the state of the world and society today? You talk about the world in general, you talk about America, you talk about China, okay? But what are some issues and concerns that you have about what's happening in China, what's happening in the world, what's happening in the United States? So you don't have to answer this question because I mean it's a hard question. But does anyone want to try? Sure. So looking at current politics, which is very complex at the moment, but I feel like there's a lot of similarities to what has happened in the past.

I haven't taken this year's class, but I feel like it's similar to what I've heard, where history teaches a lesson about things to us. And I think that, for example, right now there's a lot of similarities to what has happened previously in the history. build up to certain conflicts in the world and I think that it is important for us to be able to recognize these patterns of where conflict is on the horizon and to either decide to change things a bit to prevent these or to approach these conflicts in a better way because for example with the politics currently in the US or the politics over here in Asia there's a lot of power relationships that are similar to boost the start of World War I and World War II,

and the conditions during the Cold War, which of course have been in the past century, but it's still the same different political ideologies, kind of similar political ideologies, allying with each other and kind of having this rivalry on a global stage with each other. So I think it's really important to recognize these patterns being surfacing again,

and with the increase in conflicts globally, I think it's really important that we, as a society, which is happening right now? So one thing I taught you last year that you've internalized is the idea that there are structures and forces to the movement of politics, geopolitics. And if we study the structural forces, we have a better understanding of what's happening,

but also we can better influence what's happening. So thank you, okay? Do any of you also want to comment? How do you view the world? Yeah, like what are issues that concern you about the world today, in a society today? You talk about feminism. So what is about China you think that you're concerned about and you want to focus more about in the future, society and the world? I think one thing I actually observed on this course is also incite me is that world is more brutal than I thought before.

So, but also, also, as we have mentioned in the class, I think civilization is a cycle. It's like we are, I think there's no need to be too worried about the world or the politics because we are always in a like a point of the natural cycle where we are in the process and I think we definitely can learn something for or saying that ask for some hints

from the past, from the history. I think they also the meaning of continuing learning. And you're talking about feminism, I'm curious about such topic more from my family, actually not about the lots of like a big picture. So I think for the world, is sometimes I should firstly focus on individual, focusing my own heart.

And I find about the answer of myself, and then to interact with the world and to, and also as for China, I think the social issue, I think is we are, firstly, we are lack of a belief, maybe not particularly about the religion, but I feel sometimes people are very lost. And the second one is that I think we still want to live in their dreams,

so how to let the people more, more trying to wake up and face the reality, I think it's a quite difficult mission that we need to explore in the future. Okay, so I wanna thank you because I've heard two things, okay? The first thing is, I think in this course, even though history is depressing,

you still feel empowered because you feel like the answer is lie in history. If we can study history deep enough, we can understand the present. when it impact the present positively. So you know, a lot of things we discussed in this class are extremely pessimistic and depressing. You still have, it still gave you a sense

of like individual empowerment and agency. I mean, that's the first thing. Second thing is, I think taking this course, and maybe some other factors as well, but you feel as though that you as individual can have a positive impact on society if you engage in a process of deep-look for yourself and in a process of educating others.

So that's what I heard, okay? But thank you, okay? Echle. Yeah, like for me, one of the problems or issues that I am personally pretty concerned with this education in China, because like currently we live in a highly rational and authoritarian society. And so, like, especially in like international schools,

international schools as well as traditional high schools in China. People take a lot of tests and do a lot of, like, recite a lot of stuff and things like that. And that kind of diminished the parts where people feel that connection with the reality. And so what I've learned from this course is that when we discuss the unit about the Viking society, so one thing that I, that's pretty impressive to me, was that the Vikings spent like a third of their wealth on like a funeral. And so what does that mean is that like they value,

their society values a lot about stories that they pass from generation to generations. And that emotional part was kind of diminished by the utilitarianism in our current world. So I think, especially for my personal experience, courses like this one, and study of history has been devalued in this, especially when technologies are like science with the dominant trend, and I'm not saying that this is bad or anything, but it's like, it kind of makes us internalize

that there are sort of problems that we don't really wanna look into, and people don't really realize, especially. Okay, so Encom, I think, I think no matter what you do in life, you're going to be a very passionate educator. And it could be a professor, you be a researcher, it could be a teacher, it doesn't matter, okay?

But I think, like, just hearing you speak, your students are going to love you, and you're gonna have a huge impact on your students, okay? So thank you. All right, so for me, this was a fantastic conversation, because this is actually the first time this year, I've had a chance to talk to students, get some feedback.

So I feel extremely gratified. I thank all three of you, And I hope that we can stay in touch. And I think that for my YouTube audience, this was actually extremely enlightening. Because now for the first time, they can see my students, and they can see what Chinese students are in life. And I think people on YouTube will be very impressed by all three of you.

And I hope that we can stay in touch. And maybe we can do a follow-up session a year from now or two years from now when we're back in Beijing together. and I have a chance to ask you about your university experience and how this course has prepared for you for university. So thanks so much and we'll see in touch, okay? Okay. Thank you. Bye.