Civilization #END: The Decline and Fall of the American Empire

In the final class, Professor Jiang lectures on the American empire, starting with the Bretton Woods system established in 1944, which made the U.S. dollar the global reserve currency. He traces the history of central banking back to the Dutch Calvinists and the Bank of England, explaining how central banks control money supply and can act as "priests," "game masters," or "drug pushers." The lecture covers the rise of the Federal Reserve, the Pax Americana, and the role of technology companies challenging central banks. Professor Jiang discusses the consequences of easy money, the 2008 financial crisis, and the current geopolitical landscape, including the potential for a U.S.-Iran conflict and a realignment of global powers. He concludes with a message of hope, emphasizing the power of imagination and love to overcome dark times.