What happens when the man who freed an entire continent becomes the very thing he fought against? In this episode, Michael Stevens breaks down how Simón Bolívar, South America's great liberator, watched his dream of unity crumble while power slowly corrupted his ideals. By 1826, Bolívar controlled Gran Colombia - over 1 million square miles with 3 million people. But size became his curse. Stevens reveals how the hero who defeated Spanish rule couldn't defeat human nature, including his own. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Bolívar's 1826 Congress of Panama failed spectacularly (only 4 countries showed up) • How Gran Colombia lost 40% of its territory in just 4 years through rebellion and secession • The psychological toll of leadership revealed in Bolívar's 10,000+ letters and documents • Why even revolutionary heroes aren't immune to corruption's pull 👤 Perfect for: anyone who's ever wondered how good intentions turn into authoritarian nightmares, and history lovers who want the real story behind Latin America's most complex figure. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Michael Stevens introduces Bolívar's impossible dream [01:45] Gran Colombia's massive scale becomes unmanageable [04:20] The Congress of Panama: when grand visions meet harsh reality [06:30] Power's gradual corruption of the great liberator [08:15] Rebellions tear apart everything Bolívar built [10:30] The human cost of trying to hold it all together This isn't just about one man's fall from grace. Stevens connects Bolívar's struggle to every leader who's watched their vision collapse under the weight of reality. The patterns repeat, and the lessons still matter today. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow When Rome Burns and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, and next week Stevens tackles another empire's spectacular collapse. 🔍 Topics: Simón Bolívar, Gran Colombia, Latin American independence, political corruption, leadership failure

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--------------- Keywords: american revolution, paper money, history podcast, catherine the great, political meltdowns, ned kelly

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