Prompt Cast
The History and Controversy Surrounding Nostradamus' Prophecies
TLDR Nostradamus, a French astrologer and physician, published a book of poems in 1555 that has been interpreted as prophecies throughout history. However, his quatrains are often vague and lack evidence, leading many to view them as nothing more than ambiguous plagiarism.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Nostradamus published a book of poems in 1555 that people have been trying to interpret as prophecies ever since.
02:07
Nostradamus, whose real name was Michel de Nostradame, was born in 1503 in Provence, France, and had a well-off upbringing, receiving a comprehensive education in subjects such as mathematics, Greek and Latin, and astrology, before facing personal tragedy and developing innovative techniques for fighting the plague.
03:54
Nostradamus developed a treatment called a rose pill, remarried, and published almanacs containing astrological information and prophecies, which gained him a following and the attention of Catherine de Medici.
05:44
Nostradamus gained the attention of Catherine de Medici, who brought him to Paris and appointed him as the physician to her son, King Charles IX of France, and although most of his quatrains were not original and were taken from other sources, he published a total of 1,000 quatrains, with 942 surviving.
07:35
Nostradamus' quatrains, although often vague and general, have been interpreted by enthusiasts to predict various major events throughout history, including Hitler's rise to power.
09:20
The interpretations of Nostradamus' quatrains are often backward-looking and lack evidence of any forward-looking predictions, with most of the popularity of Nostradamus coming after the Second World War and translations of his work being considered poor and not based on the original 16th century books.
11:17
Nostradamus' quatrains, which have been popularized through fake predictions and movies, are vague and lack evidence, making them nothing more than ambiguous plagiarism.
