Vladimir Oane's Key Ideas from The Lessons of History
by Will Durant, Ariel Durant

Humans, like all living beings, are driven by a fundamental instinct for survival and reproduction. This often manifests in competition for resources, territory, and power. On various levels: individuals, groups, nations.

Cooperation arose to facilitate better competition: "Two stand a better chance against one."

ex: The Industrial Revolution sparked intense competition among nations for economic dominance, leading to imperialism and colonization.

The concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals or groups often leads to abuse of that power. This can take many forms, including corruption, tyranny, and oppression. The desire to maintain or increase power can override ethical considerations. Either way, power is a constant in humans existence. 

ex: The Roman Republic was set-up as a mechanism to guard against the absolute power of a king. But they still ended up with an emperor at the helm of an empire. 

The distribution of wealth within societies tends to become increasingly unequal over time. Societies usually start with unregulated economic freedom, leading to the economic development. As time goes by the inequalities lead to restrictions and regulations, slowing down grow. Ongoing inequalities usually lead to revolutions and bloodshed.

ex: France became the powerhouse of Europe during the the century of Ludovic XIV. But since there were very few haves and many hav-nots, his grandson, Ludovic XVI, lost his head during the French Revolution.

Civilizations follow a cyclical pattern of growth, peak, decline, and eventual collapse. Factors contributing to decline include economic problems, social unrest, external threats, and loss of cultural vitality.However, the remnants of collapsed civilizations often contribute to the rise of new ones.

ex: Egypt was amongst the first societies to grow into an empire. They survived the Bronze Age collapse, changed many rulers over thousands of years. But ultimately they fell when Cleopatra, their Greek queen, died and Egypt became a Roman province.

Religion has been a powerful force shaping human societies, cultures, and conflicts. It has served as a unifying element, as it allowed for large groups of people to come together in worshiping gods. But also a divisive factor, influencing laws, ethics, and social structures designed to separate people into groups.

ex: Early Christians were blamed for all the bad events (like the burning of Rome) and were frequently discriminated against. 300 years later the Empire became Christian. And 800 years from that the Christian priests were burning infidels.

Education is crucial for societal progress, innovation, and the development of critical thinking. Investing in education can lead to economic growth, improved health, and reduced poverty. Conversely, a lack of education can hinder a society's potential.

ex: The Califate was the knowledge center of the world before the turn of the millennia. Islamic scholars advanced math, philosophy and art. It allowed them to rule over vast lands. However the roles reversed as the West became more interested in knowledge and Islam banned most of it outside of the Coran.