Circle the globe to explore pivotal incidents of catastrophic failure in battle and consider how these errors changed the course of history.
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
Explore pivotal incidents of catastrophic failure in battle and consider how these errors changed the course of history in this fascinating 24-lesson series.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Canadian from
2500 Years of Notorious Battlefield Lapses
I can heartily recommend this series of 24 lectures presented by Dr. Gregory S. Aldrete, which amounts to a fine companion course to pair with his equally excellent 36-lecture course entitled “The Decisive Battles of World History.” Between the two, I have gained a deep appreciation for how military leadership, communication, planning, information gathering, mastery of technology, assessment of terrain, prudent perception of dangers, timely adjustment of strategies as needed, and maintenance of morale can be either admirable or tragically deplorable during armed conflicts. As must be obvious from the titles of the two courses, the present series focusses on what can be learned from disasters, while the “Decisive Battles” course is focussed on dramatic, well-earned military successes. The list of battles discussed is different in each course, with no repetition.
Particularly interesting for me among the discussions in the “Military Blunders” course were the detailed analysis of “Greasy Grass: Custer’s Last Stand—1876” (a battle about which I had already known some information), and that of “Cartagena: High Walls, Short Ladders—1741” (which was a fresh revelation for me). In all, the battle disasters examined range in time from 413 B.C. to the Age of Chivalry to the 20th century, and in geography from China to Europe to North and South America.
Dr. Aldrete is one of my favourite professors on The Great Courses faculty. In his military courses and in his additional series about Rome and other ancient civilizations, he is ever an engaging, expressive, and, above all, very clear analyst of well-researched material.
Date published: 2024-09-06
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jklapach from
A Masterful Storyteller Makes History Come Alive
I have listened to dozens of Great Courses over the years, and Dr. Aldrete's two series on military history ("The Decisive Battles" and "Greatest Military Blunders") are among the very best (if not the best). Dr. Aldrete is a masterful storyteller who expertly and engagingly recounts history's greatest battles. Dr. Aldrete describes the historical context for the chosen battles, paints vivid portraits of the key participants, provides fascinating details on the logistics of the battles, and persuasively explains the historical significance and lessons to be learned. I highly recommend these courses for anyone interested in military history, anyone interested in history, or anyone who just wants to hear a series of fascinating stories masterfully told.
Date published: 2024-01-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JenJBS from
Excellent Course!
Dr. Aldrete is a talented storyteller, and made each lecture interesting. Clearly an expert in this field of study. The production values were exceptional. Highly recommend this course.
Date published: 2023-09-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
tommyd555 from
Battles made simple, clear, and easy to understand
Professor Aldrete is one of my favorite professors in TGC's stable of experts. This is my fifth course by him, and the worse rating I could give his previous four was four stars. You know you are getting quality with an Aldrete course.
Sure he is a good storyteller but his real talent is making complex civilizations, history, or in this specific case battles more accessible and easy to understand and comprehend.
In this course he surveys over 2,300 years of history to identify and discuss some of the most pronounced military blunders and organizes them into four main themes: failures in planning, failures in leadership, failures in execution, and failures in adaptation.
He primarily excels in providing descriptions of the tactical aspects of the battles that are simple, clear, and easy to understand (unlike other courses in which advanced military terms sometimes are used) and the diagrams of battle formations and movements were also easy to comprehend to help conceptualize what was happening on the battlefield. Again no small task based on previous experiences with other courses.
Most lectures conclude with a summarization of the specific blunders which proves quite helpful since they could get lost in all of the additional detail in the lectures. It is a good way to bring it all home as well as help identify trends with other battle blunders.
Most of the lectures are engaging and difficult to stop listening to when that inevitable distraction comes up but 4, 12, 19 & 23 were tops for me.
Hard to find flaws in this course. Sure you COULD say....
...sometimes the professor’s speaking delivery cadence can be frustrating: he pauses at questionable times and places emphasis at curious locations and it becomes quite uncomfortable to hear him pronounce the word “debacle” as deb-a-call over and over again.
....and, uncharacteristically, the professor ended lecture 10 (the War of Jenkin’s Ear) without explaining how the battle affected the remainder of the overall war or the outcome of that war itself when in just about every other lecture I can recall the end result of the greater conflict was given at least a few thoughts.
However, by far the most annoying aspect of the course was this:
At times while the professor is talking, words will appear on the screen. Normally such a display would include important emphasis points that would help reinforce their criticality via visual means and are welcomed. But in this case words like “Winning”, “Crumbled”, “Failed”, and “Doomed” were suddenly displayed as he was delivering a point. Hardly earth-shattering revelatory insights to accompany the professor's discussion. How in the world did this add to the intellectual discussion? It actually had the opposite effect by taking attention away from the professor’s discourse unnecessarily and gave off the vibe of a children’s lesson or Batman 1960's camp episode (which ironically is one of my all-time favorite shows). Other times when full sentences were displayed to illustrate a point, they matched word for word what the professor was speaking, again adding nothing to the message being delivered and serving more as distractions (Do I look? Do I not look and just focus on the professor?).
Not sure if these decisions were the professor's or of later editors but wow they seemed so out of place.
But this only negligibly mars a pretty outstanding course. If you enjoy military history or the history of rivalries between civilizations or are just interested in entertaining accounts of specific battles (if one can be entertained by war...) then this is your course. Come to think of it for the exact same reasons Professor Aldrete's "The Decisive Battles of World History" would also be your cup of tea. While I'm at it I would strongly recommend his ancient Roman courses as well as "History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective"...perhaps my all-time favorite.
Date published: 2022-09-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Nightwalker 2 from
An excellent Course which is a real "Page Turner"
This is an excellent course delivered by a good lecturer. So good in fact that I often continued on to the next lecture having completed my programmed half hour time allocation! Thoroughly enjoyable and well illustrated although some of the captions are a bit small. Sadly it was slightly spoiled on the very last disc when two of the tracks kept freezing.
Date published: 2022-08-11
Rated 4 out of
5
by
hparker from
Lesser Known battles brought to light
I found this series to be interesting and very informative concerning all aspects of key battle failures and of course the opposite successes.
The lecturer, Dr. Aldrete, is well versed in military history.
He is a bit distracting by his movements while lecturing.
Date published: 2022-08-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
djk123 from
another excellent course
I have been buying and taking courses from this company since it began as The Teaching Co. back in 1990. My husband and I have three full shelves of courses (it is great that we can now stream the courses because of lack of shelving.) Professor Aldrete's courses are among the best ones in regards to interesting content and excellent delivery.
Date published: 2022-08-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
HOUNSLOW GEOFF from
Penetrating and informative.
This course is admirable in that the professor identifies the foibles of and muddled thinking of every commanding officer or officers who led their men to disaster.
Date published: 2022-07-24
Overview
About
Gregory S. Aldrete is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. He earned his PhD in Ancient History from the University of Michigan. He has been honored with numerous awards for his research and teaching and has received five fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is also a prolific scholar whose books include Gestures and Acclamations in Ancient Rome, Daily Life in the Roman City, and The Long Shadow of Antiquity: What Have the Greeks and Romans Done for Us?
Trailer
01: Petersburg: Union Digs Its Own Grave-1864
Follow the chain of events that led to the Civil War's ill-fated Battle of the Crater, a notable example of what can happen in warfare when a plan goes awry due to poor leadership, last-minute changes, and other unclear objectives. Then, look at the phenomenon of military blunders and what they teach. ...
34 min
02: Syracuse: Athens's Second Front-413 B.C.
From initiating a second front with a new enemy to dividing supreme command among multiple generals, see how failures of decision-making and leadership spelled disaster for the Greek city-state of Athens in the outcome of the Peloponnesian War, fought with Sparta. ...
33 min
03: Carrhae: The Parthian Shot-53 B.C.
The Roman military suffered one of its most humiliating defeats at the hands of the smaller Parthian force at the Battle of Carrhae. Discover how this shocking defeat involved glaring intelligence failures, overconfidence, and poor decisions, as well as crafty use of terrain and exploitation of weakness. ...
30 min
04: Red Cliffs: Cao Cao's Bad Day-208 A.D.
Even outstanding commanders can have a bad day, as evidenced by one of the most celebrated conflicts in Chinese history: the battle of Red Cliffs. How did general Cao Cao get fooled by an obvious ploy that set his armada ablaze-particularly when he had previously used such tactics himself?...
33 min
05: Barbarian Gate: Adrianople-378, Pliska-811
Although waged 400 years apart, the battles of Adrianople and Pliska share a number of curious similarities. Explore how both defeats were triggered by the Romans' mistreatment of immigrant "barbarian" groups from the north-who might otherwise have been converted into allies-and overconfidence on the part of the Roman emperors....
31 min
06: Fourth Crusade: Byzantium Betrayed-1204
Innocent III initiated the Fourth Crusade to recapture control of the Holy Lands from Muslim rulers, but Crusaders ultimately rampaged through Christendom. Learn what led to the brutal attack and looting of the city of Constantinople, a supposed ally of the Crusaders and the seat of the Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity....
31 min
07: Kalka River: Genghis Khan's General-1223
More than 40,000 Russians were slain at the hands of the Mongols at the Kalka River, including six princes and 70 noblemen. Examine the factors that led to the allied army's defeat, from underestimating the Mongols to repeatedly allowing their leader, Subotai, to maneuver his opponents onto ground of his own choosing....
29 min
08: Courtrai: Knights versus Shopkeepers-1302
At the Battle of Courtrai in 1302, a French army of the finest knights equipped with the best available arms and armor was beaten by what many viewed as an undisciplined rabble of Flemish shopkeepers bearing improvised weapons. Delve into the battle and learn the mistakes leading to the knights' defeat....
29 min
09: Nagashino: Taking Swords to a Gunfight-1575
The Battle of Nagashino was the culmination of a multi-generational conflict with some of the most memorable battles and colorful figures in Japanese history. Although both armies possessed guns, only one commander employed them to maximum effect. Delve into the battle and consider why mere access to a new technology isn't sufficient for victory-one must also understand how to use it effectively....
29 min
10: Cartagena: High Walls, Short Ladders-1741
The most spectacular battle of the War of Jenkins' Ear was a massive amphibious assault launched against the Spanish port city of Cartagena, Colombia. Trace how this expedition began with great enthusiasm among the British but ended in failure and embarrassment, due primarily to the enmity that arose between Britain's top-ranking naval and army officers....
28 min
11: Culloden: The Bonnie Prince Blunders-1746
Prince Charles Edward Stuart disembarked a French warship onto the shore of Scotland intent on restoring the House of Stuart over England and Scotland. As you delve into the battle of Culloden, notice how his rivalries, poor decisions, and waffling led to failure against the firepower and professionalism of the British....
29 min
12: Russia: Napoleon Retreats in the Snow-1812
Napoleon made many mistakes in his campaign to invade Russia, a fatal miscalculation that led to his downfall and blemished his legacy as a brilliant general. Investigate his errors here, from appointing his inept brother to an important role to using unimaginative frontal assault tactics, which resulted in a bloodbath....
31 min
13: Afghanistan: Khyber Pass Death Trap-1842
Propelled by paranoia about Russian plots, the First Afghan War was an unmitigated disaster for the British. See how their attempt to protect the East India Company's interests resulted in the entire Army of the Indus-16,000 soldiers and camp followers-being wiped out by Afghan tribesmen....
29 min
14: Crimea: Charge of the Light Brigade-1854
Although a minor incident, the Charge of the Light Brigade has gained a reputation as both a glorious moment in the history of warfare and one of the greatest military blunders of all time. Follow the disastrous chain of events that lead the British to attack the wrong target....
31 min
15: Greasy Grass: Custer's Last Stand-1876
Military historians still argue over what happened and who was at fault in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Examine why this battle between George Custer's cavalry and the Lakota and their allies remains one of the most infamous in American history, and see how this rare victory for the indigenous tribes ultimately hastened their defeat....
30 min
16: Isandlwana: 25,000 Zulus Undetected-1879
How could an army accompanied by cannon and rocket artillery be wiped out by Zulu warriors wielding spears, clubs, and a smattering of outdated firearms? Find out in this account of one of the most shocking and humiliating British defeats from the Napoleonic Wars up to World War I....
31 min
17: Adwa: Italy's Fiasco in Ethiopia-1896
Learn how overconfidence, miscommunication, and miscalculation were all displayed by the Italians at Adwa in Ethiopia, resulting in one of the greatest victories of a native people over an imperial power during the colonization era-a rare indigenous civilization that succeeded in establishing itself as an independent modern nation....
31 min
18: Colenso: The Second Boer War-1899
The Boer War's Battle of Colenso marked a turning point in military tactics, as the British forces clung to obsolete methods of fighting in the face of new weaponry and tactics. Explore how the stubborn determination of the British commanders to utilize outdated techniques resulted in a completely ineffectual attack....
30 min
19: Tannenberg: Ineptitude in the East-1914
The Battle of Tannenberg was a brilliant victory for the Germans-made possible by the many errors committed by the Russians. Discover how the Germans turned the tables on Alexander Samsonov, fragmenting and tearing apart his once seemingly invincible battalions, leaving them lost in a nightmarish landscape of forest and bogs....
30 min
20: Gallipoli: Churchill Dooms Allied Assault-1915
With World War I bogged down in trench warfare, Britain attempted to break the stalemate-which had tragic results in the Gallipoli campaign, an infamous episode of military incompetence. See where the Brits went wrong, from poorly allocating resources to giving the Turks ample time to prepare....
31 min
21: World War II: Royal Navy Goes Down-1941-42
Examine two of the worst naval disasters in the Britain's history, the causes of which include both grossly underestimating and overestimating the enemy: the sinking of the Royal Navy's most technologically sophisticated battleship by Japanese bombers in December 1941 and the destruction of merchant ships in Convoy PQ 17 by Germans in July 1942....
33 min
22: Dieppe Raid: Catastrophe on the Beach-1942
From conception to execution, the Dieppe raid was filled with unclear objectives and poor planning. Why did the Allies undertake such an ill-fated attack on this German-occupied French city? Find out here, along with a detailed account of what went wrong-from bad timing to overambitious strategies to unexpectedly difficult terrain....
29 min
23: Operation Market Garden: A Bridge Too Far-1944
Operation Market Garden is routinely listed among the great military mishaps of World War II. Investigate the Allies' numerous errors in planning, organization, and execution in this bold air/land mission, from underestimating the Germans' resistance to ignoring important intelligence to making unrealistic timetables....
29 min
24: The Great Blunders: Four Paths to Failure
Review the conflicts in this course to determine the major recurrent errors leading to such blunders. Then, turn to the final case study: a location and culture encompassing modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan that has been the target of some of history's greatest conquerors and empires across more than 2,000 years....
33 min
