History for the Mind, Wine for the Soul
The World’s Leading Thinkers... On Stage Together for the First Time Ever... to Discuss the Most Critical Theme of All...
The End of Empires and the Fall of Nations
Dear Reader,
It’s no secret: nothing lasts forever.
Empires... nations... entire civilizations have come... and gone.
History is full of valuable lessons that can help guide us into the unknown future, that can provide us with the knowledge and tools to make better decisions for ourselves, our families and our loved ones.
And now, here in 2021, we stand at the precipice.
Over the past year, we’ve witnessed events unprecedented in modern history...
A deadly plague... global lockdowns... massive civil unrest... growing political division... even calls to “cancel history”.
With all that’s going on around us, you might well be wondering...
How does it all end?
With a whimper, as T.S. Eliot imagined... or a bang?
Insights into our future are best found by properly understanding our past...
Which is why we at Classical Wisdom have gathered together - for the first time ever - some of the world’s leading intellectuals, including:
- New York Times best-selling authors
- BBC documentary makers
- Professors from the most prestigious academies in the US, the UK and Europe
- And more...
To help us understand the most important questions facing us today.
We believe that, through studying the events that led us to where we are today, we are better equipped to deal with our current challenges... and may even hope to better prepare for what lies in store for us all tomorrow...
With the world gradually recovering from the events of the past year, some nations are bound to thrive... while others will do well just to survive.
What happens when great nations fall, when empires inevitably end? Where will you be?
And how can you prepare for the day when history becomes reality?
Join us, Dear Reader, to discuss all this and more, at:
The Classical Wisdom 2021 Symposium.
12 BRILLIANT SPEAKERS, 1 WEEKEND OF DISCOVERY!
Join Niall Ferguson... Victor Davis Hanson... Edith Hall... Paul Cartledge... Barry Strauss... Helen Foley... Donald Robertson...
...and a host of special guests as they appear together for the first time ever at Classical Wisdom’s 2021 Worldwide Symposium
The Speakers
Where will you be? What happens when great nations fall, when empires inevitably end? And how can you prepare for the day when history becomes reality?
The hosts
Our hosts include Classical Wisdom's own Anya Leonard, Ben Potter, Sean Kelly and Danielle Alexander, as well as the curator of Civic Renaissance, Alexandra Hudson and the host of Ancient Greece Declassified, Jack Visnjic.
Join us to discuss all this and more at the online Classical Wisdom 2021 Symposium… all from the comfort of your own home.
The liquid guests... The Wine!
And what is a Symposium without wine? Simply a meeting…
This being a true Symposium (or as close as we could make it), the Bonner Private Wine Partnership has partnered with Classical Wisdom to provide a selection of the finest wines for you to enjoy.
The Ancients knew that there are certain times when a small amount of wine can open your mind and elevate your thinking, allowing you to see the world in entirely new ways. It was once an essential part of any Symposium.
These finely crafted wines are the perfect accompaniment to the ideas and problems we will be discussing…
Our Partnership Symposium collection features 3 wines, hailing from the seat of Western civilization, Corinth, Greece, and from the ancient Mediterranean islands of Santorini & Sardinia:
Artemis Karamolegos Assyrtiko 2018
The crescent island of Santorini (which is, in fact, the crater of an underwater volcano) has been known for its wines since 1200 B.C.; the volcanic rock of the island may explain the immunity of the island’s native assyrtiko to phylloxera -- these are some of the only ungrafted rootstocks in Europe. Following harvest, winemaker Artemis Karamolegos focused on terroir– using natural yeast and keeping the wine on its lees (dead yeast and sediment) for a whole 5 months to draw out the salt, flint, peach, and chamomile. This is a rare white that you can age and decant.
Vinicola Cherchi Cannonau di Sardegna 2018
This is an excellent example of Sardinian Cannonau from Vinicola Cherchi (who consider themselves as much winegrowers as winemakers). A dry, spicy wine full of ripe fruit and chaparral (an herbaceous element unique to wines from the Mediterranean islands). Uncork half-hour before serving.
Giannikos Lion Agiorgitiko 2017
In Homer’s day, the Peloponnesian peninsula was known as “Ampeloessa” or “full of vines.” There, according to myth, Hercules wrestled with the Nemean lion and bled onto nearby vines, turning the grapes dark red and creating the indigenous agiorgitiko variety. Today, the Peloponnese is home to Giannikos, founded in 1896 and still family owned. Their 2017 agiorgitiko is fit for a king: rugged. Rustic. Yet there’s plum and cherry here too, with a bit of oak to soften things, and a lingering nutmeg finish. Winner of the Silver Medal from AWC Vienna six years in a row.
So sip your wine & contemplate these big ideas along with Classical scholars as you attend the Symposium from the comfort of your own home!
The Bonner Private Wine Partnership usually reserves its wines for members only (and there’s actually a waitlist to join). That’s because the wines they source are mostly small batches, from traditional winemakers - no overbearing industrial wines. In fact, some of these have never been imported to the US before! So enjoy them while you can!
NOTE: Due to the small nature of the wineries the Bonner club works with, only 100 Collections could be supplied. Act fast!
(review your order on the next page)
WINE OFFER ENDS AUG 10
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Of course, it’s not just about the wine! This symposium will give you a chance to:
Learn from our speakers: Coming from all manner of highly respected academic & scholarly positions, authors, and more, this lineup is not to be missed.
Spend time thinking deeply & critically: Our theme The End of Empires and the Fall of Nations will give all of us a lot to “chew on” as we think about what we have learned and what it means for us. If you’re at a crossroads, or just want to reflect on where you’re at in life or in business, the Symposium will give you new perspectives and ideas.
Network: It’s not just about the speakers! Our panel discussions will give you a chance to speak to presenters, make new connections, and meet like-minded people.
And The Material is Yours to Keep!
The best thing about a virtual event is that every participant will receive recordings of each segment of the event. You can watch the material as many times as you want -- so don’t worry if you need to step away to answer the phone! This material will be yours to watch and watch again.
Here’s How It All Works
Register In Advance
Choose below to get your Symposium tickets with or without wine. For those wishing to partake in the Wine tasting, the 3 bottle wine pack will be shipped directly to your door so it arrives in time for the event. Please Note: If you do not register in time, the wine 3 pack will not be an option.
Connecting To The Event
After you register you will be sent a private link to the event that will be happening in Zoom, as well as periodic reminders leading up to the weekend. Once the virtual event goes live on August 21st, your personal link will go live. Just click it to join!
Schedule of Speakers & Discussions
The Symposium will take place over two days. Each day we will have presentations by our speakers. We’ll take a break, then return for a few more lectures. Later, we’ll have our wine tasting, followed by our panel discussions, which you are encouraged to participate in.
-- (All times Eastern Daylight/ New York Time) --
Saturday August 21, 2021
- 10:30am Edith Hall | Ozymandias in the 21st century
- 11:30am Paul Cartledge | Thebes: the forgotten city of ancient Greece
- 1:00pm Victor Davis Hanson | Why did the Free City State Disappear?
- 2:00pm Niall Ferguson | DOOM: The Politics of Catastrophe in the Ancient and Modern Worlds.
- 3:30pm Angie Hobbs | Decline and Fall: Plato on the Collapse of Empires and States.
- 4:30pm Aaron Smith | Aristotle, Ayn Rand and Empires
- 5:30pm LIVE: Wine Tasting | Bonner Private Wine Club
- 6:00pm LIVE PANEL: Do States and Empires Die Differently? And what can their deaths teach us today?
Sunday August 22, 2021
- 10:30am Stephan Dando-Collins | Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire
- 11:30am Donald Robertson | Stoicism and the Imperial Rule of Marcus Aurelius
- 1:00pm Mary Naples | Cleopatra: Twilight of an Empire
- 2:00pm Helene Foley | The Evolution of the Divine Empire
- 3:30pm Barry Strauss | How Caesar Ruined a Republic and Started an Empire
- 4:30pm Michael Fontaine | Decline and Last Call: Drinking in the End of Days
- 5:30pm LIVE: Wine Tasting | Bonner Private Wine Club
- 6:00pm LIVE PANEL: What control do we have over the End of Empires? And how can we prepare for their inevitable fall?
*Schedule may be subject to change
And remember: all the materials from our Symposium are yours to keep at no extra cost!
(review your order on the next page)
WINE OFFER ENDS AUGUST 10
3 Easy Steps to Register
- Choose which ticket is right for you
- Add your choice to the cart and click Checkout
- Congratulations -- you’re registered!
Sit back, relax, and wait for your box of fine wine to show up at your door.*
(review your order on the next page)
WINE OFFER ENDS AUGUST 10
*Offer not available in the following states:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah
Don’t want wine? Live in these states or internationally? You can still register for Classical Wisdom’s Symposium 2021: The End of Empires and the Fall of Nations
