What Lars Brownworth has said about Great man theory
1 quote · 1 episode · Apr 9, 2026
Lars Brownworth, American historian, author of The Sea Wolves and The Normans, and creator of the 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast, has been quoted on Great man theory once in 1 episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, most recently on April 9, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Brownworth subscribes to the great-man theory, arguing key individuals like Martin Luther were irreplaceable.
“I don't think you can just swap out Martin Luther and have a Protestant Reformation”
Lex Fridman Podcast: #495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 1:54:53
Episodes
#495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking AgeLex Fridman Podcast · Apr 9, 2026 · 2 h 10 min
Historian Lars Brownworth tells Lex Fridman about the Viking Age, from Lindisfarne and Ragnar Lothbrok to Normandy, Vinland, the Varangian Guard and the Byzantine Empire.
Lars Brownworth on other topics
- Viking Age · 5 quotes
- Byzantine Empire · 3 quotes
- 12 Byzantine Rulers · 2 quotes
- Ragnar Lothbrok · 2 quotes
- Cnut the Great · 1 quote
- Varangian Guard · 1 quote
- Norse colonization of North America · 1 quote
- Norse settlement of Greenland · 1 quote