Search Results for 'italy'
The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy
Explore the homeland of Chiantis, Barberas, Barolos, Pinot Grigios, and Astis in this fantastically fun course on Italian wines.
The Guide to Essential Italy
Italy is the quintessential location for anyone interested in art, culture, and history. In collaboration with the Smithsonian, we bring you the exceptional gems and daily life of Italy’s past and present in a visually stunning tour. Explore Rome, Florence, and Venice—and take side trips to Pompeii, Perugia, and more. Visit important monuments, witness artistic masterpieces, and immerse yourself in Italian culture.
The Italian Renaissance
Reveal the secrets behind the Italian Renaissance—the most successful artistic and intellectual explosion the world has ever seen—in this comprehensive introduction to the art, architecture, history, and politics of this extraordinary era.
The History of Ancient Rome
Discover the full story of Roman civilization—from the formation of the city to the heights of the empire to its fall.
Leonardo da Vinci and the Italian High Renaissance
Bask in the genius of the original Renaissance man with this spellbinding course that explains why Leonardo da Vinci is considered one of the most brilliant and inventive minds that has ever existed.
Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance
Study masterpieces by such great Renaissance artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian in this visually-rich course taught by an art historian.
Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome
Hannibal versus Rome: Watch the rise and fall of one of history’s greatest military commanders.
The Everyday Gourmet: The Joy of Mediterranean Cooking
Discover the secret techniques of Mediterranean cooking with this recipe-filled course presented by a chef-instructor at The Culinary Institute of America.
The Everyday Guide to Wine
Take a tasting tour of the world and learn how to speak the language of wine with an acclaimed Master of Wine.
The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917
Take an unflinching look at some of history's major players during a complex and fascinating period of history.
Learning Italian: Step by Step and Region by Region
Learn to speak Italian and explore the passion and brilliance of Italian culture in this ingenious course that teaches you the language through a grand tour of Italy’s 20 regions.
Great Castles of Europe
Take a fascinating tour of Europe’s great medieval castles and discover the ways in which these astonishing buildings shaped the political, economic, and social evolution of Europe.
The Development of European Civilization
Survey the remarkable development of Europe from the late Middle Ages through the eve of World War II with The Development of European Civilization. In Professor Kenneth R. Bartlett's 48 lectures, you'll learn the major ideologies that emerged from centuries of debate and conflict; the forces that intermingled to create a range of economic and social revolutions; groundbreaking European ideas about government, class, and religion; and so much more.
The Cathedral
Explore the evolution, majesty, and intrigue of cathedrals worldwide, as you embark on 3-D tours with a noted medieval historian.
The Architecture of Power: Great Palaces of the Ancient World
Explore the nature of political power and cultural tradition around the world through history’s most opulent, breathtaking palaces, accompanied by an expert guide.
How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition
Forever change the way you listen to music with this outstanding course that explores the history, composition, and sublime accomplishments of Western concert music.
World War II: A Military and Social History
Engross yourself in a comprehensive overview of the single largest event in history with this enthralling course by an Ivy League professor.
Lost Art: The Stories of Missing Masterpieces
Join a leading authority on the history of art crime to explore the stories of artworks that have disappeared (and sometimes reappeared) across the centuries, from the ancient world to the 21st century.
Underwater Archaeology: Mysteries of the Deep
Dive into the thrilling world of underwater archaeology in this globe-spanning course and explore sunken cities, fabulous shipwrecks, and other astonishing treasures of history beneath the oceans and waterways of our planet.
Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World
Expand your understanding into the depth and breadth of an unprecedented period in world history with an expert historian as your guide.
A History of European Art
Take in the full sweep of European art from Gothic cathedrals to Cubism in this spellbinding and visually-dazzling course taught by an acclaimed art-historian.
Museum Masterpieces: The National Gallery, London
Explore the halls of London's greatest museum with this exciting and visually sumptuous course by a acclaimed professor of art history.
Great Tours: Ancient Cities of the Mediterranean
Marvel at the glorious cities of the ancient Mediterranean—their wonders of architecture, art, engineering, culture, and history—in this fascinating video tour of the great urban centers of a world-shaping region.
The Mysterious Etruscans
Gain new insight into the foundations of Western civilization and discover how the Etruscans were a critical cultural conduit to our modern era.
How Railways Transformed the World
Climb aboard for a thrilling ride through the amazing world of railways in this thoroughly delightful course. Learn how this one invention profoundly changed human life and reveal the great railway journeys that await you around the world.
Great Battles of the Ancient World
Hollywood has gone to elaborate lengths to recreate the violence and mayhem of ancient warfare in movies such as Gladiator and Troy. But what were ancient battles really like? What weapons, tactics, armor, training, and logistics were used? In this course, Professor Garrett G. Fagan takes you into the thick of combat in some of the most notable battles fought in the Mediterranean region from prehistoric times to the 4th century CE.
World War I: The "Great War"
From August 1914 to November 1918, an unprecedented catastrophe gripped the world that continues to reverberate into our own time. World War I was touched off by a terrorist act in Bosnia and all too quickly expanded far beyond the expectations of those involved to become the first "total war." It was the first conflict in which entire societies mobilized to wage unrestrained war, investing all their wealth, industries, institutions, and the lives of their citizens to win victory at any price.
On Trial for Murder: America’s Most Famous Murder Trials
Take a deep dive into 10 infamous “trials of the century” with one of America’s premier legal experts.
Pilot Lecture: How Republics Die—The Fall of the Roman Republic
Join Professor Nicholas Kenney to explore the transformation of one of the world’s most influential democratic governments into a dictatorship in How Republics Die: The Fall of the Roman Republic.
How the Spanish Civil War Became Europe’s Battlefield
Enhance your understanding of the volatile period between the World Wars with this eye-opening survey of total war in Spain from 1936-1939.
05: Central Italy - Secret Gems
From: The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy
Here, Ms. Simonetti-Bryan guides you through the exciting complexities of red and white wines from central Italy, a region that is only just now beginning to make a name for itself internationally. You’ll get delicious introductions to wines such as an Orvieto and a Sagrantino from Umbria, and a Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna—all the while comparing and contrasting them to see what subtleties make each wine unique.
06: Southern Italy - Juicy Reds and Pizza Pairings
From: The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy
Conclude with a stop in southern Italy and its surrounding islands—a sunny and exotic region known for robust, juicy wines. The wines you’ll learn about in this lecture: a Fiano di Avellino, a Greco di Tufo, a Nero d’Avola, a Primitivo, and an Aglianico. As a fun end to the course, you’ll see how some of these wines pair with three versions of Italy’s most popular dish: pizza.
02: Butter and Cheese: Northern Italy
From: The Everyday Gourmet: The Joy of Mediterranean Cooking
Turn your attention to northern Italy, which-with its pastureland and cooler climate-has far more in common with the cuisine of northern Europe than it does with other regions of Italy. Learn to scratch make ricotta gnocchi, vitello tonnato, and tiramisu, plus a quick hors d'oeuvre that makes the most of any leftover ricotta....
14: Wines of Southern Italy
From: The Everyday Guide to Wine
Explore the wines of southern Italy. You visit Tuscany, home of Chianti; Campania, the source of the legendary Lacryma Christi (or "Tears of Christ"); and Sicily, whose Nero d'Avola is a rising star among red wine drinkers.
01: Italy and the Renaissance
From: Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance
This lecture examines the features of late medieval culture in Italy that paved the way for the Renaissance. In painting, Giotto di Bondone evolved a proto-Renaissance style in contrast to the prevailing late-Gothic style.
13: Italy on the Eve-An Overview
From: The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917
The final structure of the Italian nation, achieved when Italy occupied Rome in 1870, was far from what the major players had anticipated. This lecture paves the way for understanding the disappointing results of "unification" by analyzing the plight of Italy in 1848....
10: The Roman Confederation in Italy
From: The History of Ancient Rome
Did the Romans administer their conquests in Italy? The complex, hierarchical system that they devised goes a long way toward explaining the longevity of the Roman Empire.
13: Wines of Northern Italy
From: The Everyday Guide to Wine
Welcome to Italy, home to over 1,000 grape varieties. You sample a Barolo and Amarone (two pillars of Italian wine), a Pinot Grigio (the quintessential crowd-pleasing white wine), and other northern Italian wines.
09: Roman Expansion in Italy
From: The History of Ancient Rome
The Roman conquest of Italy was a long and arduous business. We chart the outline of this expansion in three phases that were not without reverses for the Romans. We examine the ramifications of expansion for Roman politics and society.
22: Gothic Churches in Italy
From: The Cathedral
While the term "Gothic" is rarely used in an Italian context, Professor Cook pinpoints both traditional and unique Gothic elements present in the cathedrals of Siena and Orvieto, as well as in the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. He also guides you through other buildings, including the most Gothic cathedral in Italy, Milan Cathedral.
03: Pre-Roman Italy and the Etruscans
From: The History of Ancient Rome
In pre-Roman times, the Italian peninsula was inhabited mainly by tribal peoples. The two major exceptions were the Greek colonizers in southern Italy and Sicily, and the Etruscans just north of Rome. Etruscan civilization is thought to be mysterious, but really it's not. Find out why.
33: Guicciardini and "The History of Italy"
From: The Italian Renaissance
Guicciardini was a remarkable, if flawed, genius. His advice was partly responsible for the sack of Rome. However, his monumental "The History of Italy" became the model for new Humanist historiography. This book has been called the most important work of history between Tacitus and Gibbon.
04: Bounty from the Sea: Southern Italy
From: The Everyday Gourmet: The Joy of Mediterranean Cooking
Because Italy extends into the Mediterranean, it has adopted many culinary ideas from other countries. Learn how to make one such dish: an African-inspired caponata with seared tuna rolled in spices. Also, discover how to make authentic Neapolitan pizza with a home oven and finish with a refreshing coffee granita dessert....
03: Classical Italian Cuisine: Central Italy
From: The Everyday Gourmet: The Joy of Mediterranean Cooking
As you move south to the milder weather of central Italy, watch a step-by-step demonstration on making pasta from scratch for a savory pappardelle with ragù Bolognese, along with a salad accompaniment of bitter greens that serves as a digestive, and a simple first course-stracciatelle soup. ...
05: Gothic Art in Germany and Italy
From: A History of European Art
Continuing the study of Gothic art forms and styles, you look at a famous sculpture on the Strasbourg Cathedral, then move to Italy to examine relief carvings in Pisa, and compare three paintings by Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto of the Madonna enthroned with the Christ Child.
16: War in the Mediterranean-The Invasions of Sicily and Italy
From: World War II: A Military and Social History
In addition to tracing the course of the campaigns in Sicily and Italy, with particular emphasis on the Anzio landings, the Battle of Monte Cassino, and the liberation of Rome, this lecture analyzes the politics of the war in Italy and the impact of the Italian campaign on the timing of the cross-Channel invasion of France.
16: The Allies Invade Italy: Sicily to Anzio
From: World War II: Battlefield Europe
Was the Allied invasion of Italy a strategic necessity or, as many at the time suggested, a sideshow? Consider both sides in this lecture on Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, and two key battles—at Monte Cassino and Anzio—that illustrate the incredible tenacity of Allied soldiers, but also the uninspired generalship that led to an enormous waste of lives.
03: Northwest Italy - Sophisticated Wines
From: The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy
Venture to the Piemonte, which rests right at the foot of the Alps. Some of the intriguing wines you’ll encounter here: a Franciacorta (whose floral hints pair surprisingly well with fried foods); a Cinque Terre Blanco (Liguria’s most renowned wine); and a Barolo (often described as a “masculine” wine due to its burly tannins). Also, take a short trip to a winery’s barrel room to explore differences in aging techniques.
35: The End of the Renaissance in Italy
From: The Italian Renaissance
Italy was a very different place in 1570 from what it had been in 1470. Particular events illustrate why: the French invasions of 1494; the sack of Rome in 1527; and the closure of free thought and debate by the Church. Moreover, the victory of despotic monarchical regimes in states like Florence ended the competitive, energetic world of the Renaissance.
02: Northeast Italy - Beloved Whites to Rich Reds
From: The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy
Continue your tour with a visit to Venice and other areas in the northeastern corner of the country—a region famed for light-bodied white wines and deep reds. You’ll compare and contrast Champagne and Prosecco; learn how to make the perfect Bellini; compare and contrast large-volume and boutique Pinot Grigios; learn the best dish to pair with a glass of Amarone (one of Italy’s most aristocratic red wines); and more.
45: Fascism in Italy
From: The Development of European Civilization
An examination of post-unification Italian history explains why Fascism arose in what would seem to be a country ill-suited for it. You also learn why its embrace of Fascism was led by a man who had begun public life at the opposite end of the political spectrum, a radical Socialist journalist named Benito Mussolini.
18: Women in Renaissance Italy
From: The Italian Renaissance
It has been argued that women did not have a Renaissance. They were largely subject to their fathers until marriage and thereafter to their husbands. Classical learning was seen as superfluous, and possibly dangerous to a female's virtue and reputation. Many women of high birth rose to great heights, but for most life was very difficult.
04: Tuscan Stars - Chianti to Super Tuscans
From: The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy
Discover why Tuscan wines are famous all over with world with this lecture devoted to some of the greats that this region has to offer. You’ll sample some of the tastes from this breathtaking part of the country, including a lemony Vermentino, a light-bodied Barbera, a savory Chianti Classico, and a tannic Super Tuscan (considered the most controversial red in all of Italy).
16: Botticelli and the Trouble in Italy
From: Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance
In his later career, Botticelli produced works such as the disquieting Calumny of Apelles, possibly painted as a defense of the Puritanical preacher Savonarola, whose execution in 1498 initiated Botticelli's metaphysical phase culminating in the haunting Mystic Nativity....
07: The High Renaissance in Central Italy
From: Museum Masterpieces: The National Gallery, London
The National Gallery's collection of paintings from the High Renaissance includes some of the most renowned artists of the period, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Glimpse their masterpieces as well as works by lesser-known but still quite remarkable artists of the period.
11: Southern Italy Rebels against Rome
From: Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome
Buoyed by victory, why was the famed Carthaginian general so hesitant about attacking Rome itself? How did both Rome and Carthage take the news of Hannibal’s plunder of the Italian peninsula? What, ultimately, led to the defection of a key Roman ally, the city of Capua? And what condition was the Carthaginian army in after the partnership? Consider these and other questions.
09: National Styles-Italy and Germany
From: How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition
This lecture describes the rise of German music during the Baroque. The Protestant Reformation put a new emphasis on the German language in worship, and the music with it followed the idiosyncratic cadences of the German language, as opposed to Latin/Italian. We also explore the Lutheran view of music and composition as a spiritual act, a view that altered the history and nature of German music.
11: Greek Palaces Come to Roman Italy
From: The Architecture of Power: Great Palaces of the Ancient World
Two men, Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Lucius Licinius Lucullus, were largely responsible for the transformation of Roman architecture; their story is one of political strategy, Persian influence, and sheer determination. Consider why Lucullus may be the most important yet underrated figure in the history of palace creation.
08: Renaissance Italy’s Princes and Rivals
From: Renaissance: The Transformation of the West
In this lecture, turn to the other great power players in Renaissance Italy, including the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and the duchy of Milan. Then, examine the eclipse of the age of the republics by the age of the tyrants: elite families who used cunning to obtain—and maintain—positions of authority.
40: Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany—1922–36
From: Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World
The disillusionment in Europe with democracy and, later, capitalism following the Great War and the Great Depression make alternatives seem reasonable. Mussolini and Hitler seize power and create states that boast full employment—at a price.
14: Cavour and Napoleon III-"Unifying" Italy
From: The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917
The developments that set "unification" into motion are instigated by Piedmontese minister Count Camillo di Cavour and Napoleon III. But Cavour's death leaves the final process of creating the new nation to lesser talents, with problematic results....
34: The Unifications of Germany and Italy
From: The Development of European Civilization
Europe's 19th-century nationalist movements unleashed powerful programs of self-determination. The two discussed in this lecture created new states linked by language, culture, and ethnicity. One, however, emerges as a great power; the other as weak but ambitious, with its national mission still incomplete.
26: Flawed States-Austria-Hungary and Italy
From: The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917
Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire and flawed Italian state did not have much in common, both were examples of "failed" nation-states at the end of the century. This lecture examines the reasons why, and the conditions in both nations during the formative years of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini....
07: Renaissance Italy’s Sweets and Pasta
From: Cooking across the Ages
Explore the earliest printed cookbook, composed in Italy in the early 15th century and printed around 1470—making it one of the first generation of books in print on any subject. Learn to create its blancmanger, a combination of capon breast, white flour, rosewater, sugar, and almond milk that still exists today in Turkish cuisine. And discover how to make pasta by feel and texture, no measurements allowed.
03: Italy—The Cradle of the Renaissance
From: The Italian Renaissance
The Renaissance developed because of the unique circumstances of the Italian peninsula. Urban life had remained strong, a lay tradition of study and secular values had been sustained, and memories of the Roman Empire were everywhere.
01: The Study of the Italian Renaissance
From: The Italian Renaissance
This series provides a multifaceted image of Renaissance Italy that explains why that period remains fundamental to Western culture. Lectures on city-states are interspersed with those on philosophy, education, and other cultural elements relevant to Italy in general.
33: The Italian Campaign and the Sister Republics
From: Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon
As commander of the French army in Italy in 1796, Napoleon marched into Milan, drove Austria to its knees, and set up a sister republic in Italy, astonishing the rest of Europe. See what made Napoleon such a brilliant military strategist, and learn about Napoleon's politics and diplomacy as a young leader.
19: Papal Rome and the Spanish Golden Age
From: Food: A Cultural Culinary History
Here, explore the rise of distinct regional and national cuisines, focusing on Italy and Spain. Review the monumental culinary writings of Bartolomeo Scappi, bringing together specialty dishes from all of Italy. Then study excerpts from two classic books of Spanish cookery as they vividly evoke Spain's rich food culture....
30: Niccolò Machiavelli
From: The Italian Renaissance
Although best known for his political writing, Machiavelli was also a fine dramatist, letter writer, and diplomat. "The Prince," written after the return of the Medici in 1512 removed Machiavelli from power, reviews Italy in an uncertain age. Using the ruthless Cesare Borgia as a model, it counsels harsh medicine and strong leadership to protect Italy from the northern "barbarians."
18: Latin European Cultures
From: Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are
Why do the French and people from the United States often seem to dislike each other? Find out in this lecture on the culture and dining customs of the Latin European cluster, which includes Italy, Portugal, France, French Switzerland, Belgium, and-although an outlier-Israel. Also get tips for handling catcalls as the locals do when you visit Italy and other countries in which such behavior is com...
15: Germany on the Eve
From: The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917
This lecture examines the situation before the forging of the German Empire by the powerful Prussian statesman, Otto Von Bismarck-a situation even more complex than that faced by Italy....
03: Cultural Transformation in the Italian Ghetto
From: Jewish Intellectual History: 16th to 20th Century
Professor Ruderman argues that the ghetto system in late 16th- and early 17th-century Italy ushered in a new era of Jewish-Christian relations and a restructuring of Jewish cultural life.
07: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance
From: The Medieval World
Although it is Italy that has long laid popular claim to the word "Renaissance," it's hard not to marvel at the changes introduced by Charlemagne. Learn how he successfully brought about an unprecedented flowering of art, architecture, literature, music, and education.
19: The Fall of the Byzantine Empire
From: The Late Middle Ages
The eastern half of the Roman Empire outlives the western half by nearly 1,000 years. This lecture traces the fall of that empire, with the resulting migration of Byzantine scholars to Italy, helping to fuel the revival of antiquity's values then taking place in the West.
12: Bologna Gets a University (1088)
From: The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History
Before Cambridge and Oxford, there was the University of Bologna, founded in Italy in 1088. Here, Professor Fears details how Europe’s first academic institution emerged and, in doing so, reveals the origins of scholarly procedures and educational traditions that remain with us well into the 21st century.
20: Totalitarianism and Total War
From: The Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas
Explore the events surrounding World War II, including the role philosophers played and how political philosophers interpreted the new totalitarianism of Russia, Italy, and Germany. Grasp how this period produced our familiar spectrum of international politics, with communism on the far left and fascism on the far right.
16: Aeneas—Rome's National Hero
From: Life Lessons from the Great Myths
Learn how the Aeneid—Vergil's epic poem about the warrior Aeneas's arrival in Italy—uses mythology to celebrate the ancient Roman national identity. In particular, examine two fascinating episodes from this myth: the tormented love affair between Aeneas and Dido, and Aeneas's descent into the underworld to find his destiny.
01: Let's Take It From the Top!
From: The Symphony
Beginning in the orchestral overtures of opera and the concertos of Baroque Italy, the symphony would emerge as its own genre in the 18th century.
04: Donatello and Luca della Robbia
From: Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance
The most influential visual artist in Italy in the 15th century was Donatello. This lecture traces his work until he moved to Padua in 1443. Also covered is Luca della Robbia, whose superb choir gallery for the Florence Cathedral is in direct competition with Donatello's choir gallery for the same church.
03: The Medieval Roots of Italian Renaissance
From: Renaissance: The Transformation of the West
Discover why the Renaissance first bloomed in, of all places, Italy. First, look at the politics and economics of medieval Italian states. Then, explore how the legacies of antiquity gained traction throughout the peninsula. Finally, consider the influence of trade revivals, a dynamic social order, and the profits from holy wars.
