The richest and longest-lived empires of history offer 15 lessons you can scale down to your own life: create demand with your resources, learn the financial system, lead with a vision, value merit, adapt, keep up with technology, invest in knowledge, stay fair, plan strategically and build a legacy. Why learn from states that ruled long ago, fell in the end and are often criticized? The script answers that being controversial does not make them unsuccessful. They ruled for decades, hundreds and even thousands of years, and spanned the globe when world travel was a mere idea.
The 15 lessons below are grouped into five parts. The history is as the script tells it, and the script’s view is that these examples are worth studying without endorsing how those states ruled.
Watch the full video here, or skip to the breakdown below.
The 15 lessons at a glance
- 1 to 3. Demand, finance and vision (0:51)
- 4 to 6. Merit, adaptability and cultures (4:17)
- 7 to 9. Technology, infrastructure and calls (7:42)
- 10 to 12. Knowledge, fairness and planning (11:19)
- 13 to 15. Culture, allies and legacy (15:47)
1 to 3. Demand, finance and vision
Use your resources to create demand. Mali (13th to 16th centuries) was rich from controlling trans-Saharan trade routes, extensive gold mines, and access to salt and ivory. But nobody really wanted gold until its leader Mansa Musa traveled to Mecca and handed it out along the way, which caused inflation in the cities he visited and drew traders and investors who saw a wealthy, powerful and generous state. Your own routes and resources are your skills, knowledge, connections and time. Find or create niches where they stand out.
Learn and play the financial system game. The Dutch in their Golden Age set up the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in 1602, the first of its kind, which helped spread stocks and bonds. They educated themselves on trading and financial management. To understand how wealth is accumulated and distributed, and be part of that distribution, you have to learn too, however dull it seems. Entrepreneurs should look at as many funding sources as possible, from traditional loans to venture capital to crowdfunding.
Lead with a clear vision. Flying by the seat of your pants works to a degree, but to level up you need to balance flexibility with a vision and lead yourself like a manager leads a team. Rome under Julius Caesar and Augustus left a legacy of law, governance and culture, and Genghis Khan unified the Mongol tribes into a territory stretching from Europe to Asia. They looked far beyond what they had, and while it was controversial, it had no precedent.
Know what you have that is valuable, learn how money moves, and aim far.
4 to 6. Merit, adaptability and cultures
Value merit and skills over nepotism. People are tired of watching mediocre children get jobs thanks to a parent’s talent. The Mongols promoted on ability and achievement, which the script says was key to their military success and efficient administration. China’s Tang Dynasty used civil service examinations so officials were chosen on ability, not social status. If you are tempted to hire or befriend someone for their family’s connections, remember that people who never had to work for their skills may not understand your drive. Look for people who work as hard as you do.
Become resilient through being adaptable. Byzantium survived over a thousand years despite invasions, plagues and internal conflict, adapting through strategic marriages, diplomacy and evolving military tactics. The Mongols quickly adopted technologies and tactics from the cultures they conquered. The hardest part of a challenge is the uncertainty, not knowing why something will not work. Once you know, whether a relationship ended or you lost a job, you can change your ideas, develop a game plan and act.
Appreciate different cultures. Meeting people from other countries, we default to listing similarities and differences and judge the differences more harshly than our own. When you talk about other cultures, mention the great things too. The Mughals in India blended Persian, Indian and Islamic influences in art, architecture and administration. Integrating cultures and perspectives builds empathy and social skills, and combining views leads to more innovative solutions.
Resilience is mostly the ability to change your plan once you know what is going on.
7 to 9. Technology, infrastructure and calls
Do not let technology speed past you. We laugh at kids born with iPads and parents who hold the phone far away to type, but if you fall behind, that will be you. The Tang Dynasty advanced printing, medicine and engineering, and Rome’s aqueducts, roads and buildings set standards in urban planning. Their leaders, whatever their age, were at the forefront of technology. Age is not an excuse. If you run a business in an industry that uses modern tech, you owe it to your success to keep up.
Create your ideal infrastructure. Mali built cities, mosques and learning centers that became hubs of activity and attracted scholars, traders and travelers. Think of infrastructure as the foundation under everything else. At home, that might mean repairs, organizing your space, or a dedicated area for work or hobbies. Your home should be the place you want to return to after a long day, one that supports your most important goals.
Make calls your communication system. The script expects pushback, since nobody likes calls, but says they are quick, efficient and clear. We spread communication across email, Slack or Teams, iMessage or WhatsApp and a dozen other programs, and all that back and forth can be solved with a call. The Mongols relied on the Yam, a network of relay stations, and the British on postal and telegraph networks. They did not have the tech we do, but knew the value of getting everyone on the same page.
A short call often replaces twenty messages.
10 to 12. Knowledge, fairness and planning
Invest in knowledge. Songhai and Timbuktu, along with the Tang Dynasty, show how education and exchange of ideas can enrich a society. In Timbuktu scholars from different backgrounds gathered, and the Tang valued education and cultural exchange. Commit to your own education at any stage of life through classes or online platforms. You might think you can do it all alone, but the best ideas come from conversations with people who are also seeking answers.
Strive for fairness. Whether dividing work on a project, giving feedback or handling a family disagreement, let fairness guide you. Hold your principles the same for yourself and everyone else, because dishing out different consequences makes people lose respect for you. If two friends betray you, hold them equally accountable. Ashoka the Great changed his governance toward ethical, just principles after embracing Buddhism, and Cyrus the Great developed the Yassa code to reduce corruption and treat subjects fairly regardless of heritage or belief.
Value strategic planning. A good plan considers potential problems, different solutions, timelines, who you can rely on, resources and whether you have a plan B. The Ottomans used diplomacy alongside military strength, and the Romans planned governance, military strategy and infrastructure. Do not only define goals but map the steps and who will help or hinder. If your goal is to get fit, will your pizza-loving partner help or hinder? It is the little speed bumps nobody thinks of that hold us back.
Little speed bumps derail more plans than big obstacles.
13 to 15. Culture, allies and legacy
Learn about arts and culture. It is easy to ignore them for more pressing matters, but arts and culture shape the opinions of young people and show what the grassroots are thinking before governments do. The Mughals gave us the Taj Mahal and a blend of artistic styles that still influences South Asian art, and the Tang pushed poetry, painting and calligraphy to new heights. If your perspectives feel boxed in, immerse yourself in theater, museums or a craft workshop.
Your friends and your enemies are both important. Rulers called this alliances and diplomacy, and Byzantium and Britain were good at it, negotiating with friends and foes as the world changed. Understand others’ perspectives and find common ground. The goal should never be to win the argument but to find the solution, which creates an environment where collaboration thrives. Nobody you see regularly should be an enemy so bad that you run at the sight of them.
Create a legacy. Rome and Britain focused on legacies that outlasted their rule: legal systems, architecture, language and culture. Think about the long-term impact of your actions, like investing in education or health now when benefits are not immediate, saving money or learning new skills. It is about setting up a life you can look back on with pride, knowing your choices shaped something meaningful.
The goal in any disagreement is the solution, not the win.
Take the lessons, keep the perspective
The script closes by saying that these states were never perfect, far from it, but there are important lessons to take from them. Each lesson scales down from a state of millions to your home, your team and your own plans.
If you had to pick one to try this week, choose the one you recognize as your weakest spot, whether it is finance, communication or planning.
FAQ
What can we learn from the richest empires?
The video lists 15 lessons, including creating demand with your resources, learning the financial system, leading with vision, valuing merit, being adaptable, investing in knowledge, being fair, planning strategically and building a legacy.
How did Mansa Musa create demand for gold?
According to the video, nobody really wanted gold until he traveled to Mecca and handed it out along the way, which caused inflation in the cities he visited and attracted traders and investors.
What was the Amsterdam Stock Exchange?
The video says the Dutch established it in 1602 as the first of its kind, which helped spread stocks and bonds.
Why does the video recommend phone calls?
Because calls are quick, efficient and clear. The video says the back and forth of messages across many apps can often be solved with a single call.
Why does fairness matter?
The video says holding principles the same for yourself and everyone else builds trust and stability, while inconsistent consequences make people lose respect for you.
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