Explore great moments of history through the eyes of everyday citizens. Living History spotlights 24 turning points where the tide of history changes irrevocably. Moving deeper into these momentous events, you step into the scene and hear the heartbeat of history" by engaging with a variety of first-hand accounts and authentic primary and secondary sources to experience what it was like to live during these times."
Living History: Experiencing Great Events of the Ancient and Medieval Worlds
Discover the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Cesare from
disappointment
I thought this was a history course. Episode one, the battle of Kadesh was determined by Ramses hearing his dead father. Episode two, the battle of Marathon was determined by the goat god. What?
Date published: 2024-04-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jan 221 from
living history
I loved every moment of this course. Robert Garland is spellbinding soon and I could listen to him all day. Hope he does another course soon.
Date published: 2024-03-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
martimedes2 from
Vivid storytelling
I like the way that RG dives straight in. There is no vapid preamble, you are there at the time, on the day, and in the place of concern, from the first few seconds. I knew a lot about all of the events RG describes, but his colourful descriptions bring each situation alive. Moreover, he is careful to highlight what is known - or at least commented on - from historical records, and what is pure speculation.
His diction is measured, carefully cadenced, and totally understandable without hearing aids !
There was one unfortunate error in Lecture 15 (the Colosseum). He describes the layout as an ellipse (with two focal points). At first glance this appears to be so, but is, in actual fact, incorrect. Steven Ressler, in Lecture 7 of his excellent Course (#1132) ’Understanding Greek and Roman Technology’ points out that it is a polycentric oval. He asserts that the “Roman engineers laid out the plan…as a series of interconnected circular arcs, each with a different radius and centre point” (page 58 of the Course booklet). He supports this idea by saying that “the engineer could lay out perfectly parallel corridors quite easily by just drawing concentric arcs” (op cit). For anyone interested, he goes to great lengths to describe the building methods used from an engineering perspective.
But back to RG’s other lectures.
The Japanese had also badly miscalculated their long term ability to control Pacific waters. Moreover, they had neglected to destroy the immense fuel storage tanks in PH. Last but not least, the effect on American morale was essentially the opposite of what the Japanese had hoped. In the weeks following Pearl Harbour (which included Adolf Hitler’s declaration of war on the US on December 11), approximately one million American men volunteered for military duty. This would be followed by a draft that eventually built the American military into a 12-million-strong juggernaut by 1944, compared with Japan’s 4.3 million men.
I think that this series of lectures is both illuminating and enjoyable.
Date published: 2023-11-03
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Curious Gary from
History as it should be taught
The course highlights events where humanity could have taken a dramatically different course if things turned out differently, and situations were such that they could have. The professor does an outstanding job of dramatizing these situations. If high school history were taught this way 80% of college students would be trying to major in history.
Date published: 2023-04-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
morganlot5 from
absolutje wonderful
terrific as are all of Dr Garlsnds lectures.. he makes you feel
as if you were there with him
Date published: 2022-07-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
MaineMountainMan from
wonderful journey
Another excellent course by Robert Garland. Always informative and very entertaining, Garland's enthusiasm for his subject is unmatched and his presentation is masterful.
Date published: 2022-02-24
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Cousindrew from
Good But Not Great
As others have noted, Prof. Garland is an enthusiastic, informed, and articulate lecturer and storyteller, and he offers here a course that is both interesting and entertaining. While he certainly fills in gaps in the historical record with educated guesswork, he does not invent from whole cloth as some reviewers appear to suggest, and he clearly identifies the information he imparts that cannot be confirmed. I thought he tried too hard in certain instances to force the historical event into his "you are there" framework, which is the reason I gave the course a four rather than a five, but that criticism is minor compared to the strength of the course overall. I took the course through both audio and video and preferred the video format due to the large number of maps and pictures. Highly recommended!
Date published: 2022-01-11
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Rocky111 from
Storytelling vs History
I can't add much to BGZRedix's assessment of 6 years ago ('If it's not worth doing, it's not worth doing well') other than the following few observations. I'm, admittedly, a Joe Friday ('just the facts, ma'am') kinda' guy, but I certainly can appreciate the intent to try to 'personalize' history so that it's more understandable to the reader/viewer. What I can't appreciate is a lecturer who tells me there are no reliable sources for a particular quote or occurrence, and, then, goes ahead and presents his personal, unsubstantiated opinion as fact. I also don't really appreciate a lecturer who says something unsubstantiated (or, just plane untrue) two or three times as some kind of means of, I guess, convincing himself it's true . . . then treats that data as factual from that point. And, finally, I don't appreciate a lecturer who so casually gets so many known facts incorrect in an apparent effort to support his own fanciful version of events.
I own Professor Garland's course The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World. While it, too, features his trademark enthusiasm for his subject whether factual or not, at least each of its lectures is tied to a specific aspect of life in the ancient world. That seems to keep his penchant for wild speculation and supposition in check.
BGZRedix's review is 6 years old. As I paid only $40 for this course, I can only assume the Great Courses must be getting to the end of its inventory of copies of it. My copy will be going straight into my 'local library donation' box. Meanwhile, I'd suggest the Great Courses not pitch the course as 'history'. It seems more appropriate to a category like (personal) philosophy, literature, or - better yet - hobby & leisure.
Date published: 2021-11-13
Overview
About
Robert Garland is the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics, Emeritus, in the Department of the Classics at Colgate University. He has a PhD in Ancient History from University College London. A former Fulbright Scholar, he was also a fellow at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington DC and a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. He has written 19 books, including Greek Mythology: Gods and Heroes Brought to Life and Roman Legends Brought to Life. He has also published extensively in academic and popular journals and served as a consultant for educational film companies.
Trailer
01: Ramesses II: Heartbeat of History
What do we mean by "living history"? Take an imaginative leap into the ancient world and discover the moment-by-moment heartbeat of history. Your first stop is the Battle of Kadesh, the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II's all-but-disastrous campaign against the Hittites. See how the king spins a tactical retreat into a glorious victory....
33 min
02: Marathon: The Persians Have Landed!
Professor Garland takes you into the Battle of Marathon to show how the outnumbered Athenians scramble for help before heading to the coast for an impressive fight against the invading Persians. The Athenian debates, their surprise running charge into battle, and the strenuous marches come to life in visceral detail....
33 min
03: Oresteia: Judgment at the Dionysia
Take a break from battle and head to the Theater of Dionysis on a warm March day to view one of the most astounding theatrical performances in history. Not only is Aeschylus's Oresteia an innovative dramatic trilogy, the trial of Orestes is a deeply relevant consideration of Athenian democracy at a time of great unease....
32 min
04: Attack on Attica: Pericles's Gamble
Delve into the time of Pericles and the Peloponnesian War, where political action has required rural citizens to head into the city. There, the cramped urban conditions and pestilence breeds disaffection among the citizenry. Hear what Pericles had to say to inspire Athenians for the continued glory of the city....
32 min
05: Socrates on Trial: For the Defense
You might think you know Socrates, but in this lecture you'll encounter a whole new context for understanding one of the Greeks' most famous citizens. In the wake of the Peloponnesian War, tension lingers following the overthrow of an oligarchy in Athens, and the democratic population is in search of a fall guy. See how Socrates fits the bill....
33 min
06: Conspiracy! Murder of Philip II
Murder has always intrigued us, especially when the fate of a state hangs in the balance. Explore the mystery of Philip II of Macedonia, who is murdered amid a wedding celebration in 336 B.C.E. Is he killed by a jilted lover? A jealous wife? An ambitious son? This lecture takes you into Macedonian court life and considers the possible motives and social intrigue....
31 min
07: Alexander the Great: Punjab Revolt
Alexander is one of history's most interesting characters-a brilliant, flawed, complex leader. A restless megalomaniac tutored by Aristotle, he drives his army across the ancient world to conquer one land after another until they reach northeast India. There, his army revolts and forces him to retreat. Get inside the head of this fascinating leader....
32 min
08: Pyrrhus: Deadly Dreams of Empire
The Greeks had a tremendous run on the world stage, but their dominion arguably comes to an end the moment Pyrrhus sets sail for Italy. Although he is "victorious" in his conquest against the Romans, his withdrawals pave the way for Rome to come to the fore as the next great world power. See what drives Pyrrhus forward, and what holds him back....
32 min
09: India's Ashoka the Great Repents
Meet Ashoka the Great, whose story was all but forgotten until his carved edicts were unearthed in the 19th century. As leader of India, he leads a bloody charge into the neighboring province of Kalinga-but guilt from the battle drives him toward a transformative conversion. For the rest of his reign, he serves as a paragon of Buddhist morality....
33 min
10: Hannibal: Rome Holds Its Breath
Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general, is one of the most remarkable military leaders of all time. During the Punic Wars he led his army to an astounding tactical victory against the Romans, and then held the defeated soldiers captive for ransom. Destiny hung in the balance as Rome awaited Hannibal's expected advance against the city....
30 min
11: The Final Days of Julius Caesar
Continue your study of some of history's most enigmatic characters with a look at Julius Caesar, whose infamous murder on the Ides of March ranks as one of the most consequential assassinations. Professor Garland introduces you to Caesar's character before walking you through the conspiracy of that fateful day....
30 min
12: Antony and Cleopatra's Death Pact
In the wake of Caesar's assassination, power hangs in the balance as Mark Antony squares off against Octavian for sole control of Rome's empire. When the tide of the Battle of Actium turns against Mark Antony, his lover Cleopatra flees-and he decides to follow her, leaving the future of Rome to Octavian. Examine this decision and the tragedy that ensues for both Antony and Cleopatra....
32 min
13: Jesus under Surveillance and Arrest
Travel to the Roman province of Judea, where a humble carpenter has entered Jerusalem during the Passover. The city is seething with political and religious discontent, and Jesus is seen as a troublemaker. Witness his arrest and interrogation by the priests and Pontius Pilate, and consider Pilate's decision to put Jesus to death....
30 min
14: Jerusalem Tinderbox: Temple in Flames
Continue your exploration of Jerusalem, this time around 66 C.E., when the city's political turmoil reaches it peak. An insurgency rises up over taxes, and the ensuing Roman siege sparks a civil war. At the end of the Great Jewish Revolt, the city is in ruins, the Temple has been burned, and the Romans crucify thousands of Jewish prisoners....
32 min
15: Roman Colosseum: Blood in the Arena
Visit the newly finished Roman amphitheater circa 80 C.E., where the emperor Titus will celebrate the consolidation of his family's dynasty by hosting 100 days of gladiatorial games. Bloodthirsty and vicious, the spectacle is nonetheless captivating. After learning about the Colosseum's engineering, you'll experience what it was like to be there for the games....
32 min
16: Visigoth King Alaric Descends on Rome
On occasion, individual personalities shape large contours of history. Such is the case with King Alaric, the charismatic leader of the Visigoths, who conquers many Roman outposts before laying siege to the city itself. His victories don't conclude with the end of Rome, but it's clear the city's power is in decline....
32 min
17: Nika Riots at the Racetrack: Theodora
Head east to Constantinople, seat of the Byzantine Empire and the eastern counterpart to Rome. During a day of chariot races at the hippodrome, riots break out and threaten the Emperor Justinian and his politically savvy wife, Theodora. Learn about this unorthodox marriage and how Theodora's counsel ultimately saves the empire....
31 min
18: The Concubine Empress: Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian's story is one of the most remarkable in all of history. She entered adulthood as a classically educated concubine during China's Tang Dynasty, and then worked her way up the social ladder to marry an emperor. Professor Garland charts her rise and shows how her success hinges on the mystery surrounding a child's death....
32 min
19: Muhammad's Awakening and Escape
Witness the founding of Islam by entering the world of Mecca in 622, where a prosperous businessman named Muhammad has a revelation that changes the course of history. Learn about his conversion and his journey to Medina. There he builds a community that will soon spread around the globe....
32 min
20: Charles Martel Defeats the Muslims
Take the battlefield in one of the most decisive battles ever fought between Muslims and Europeans. In the century after Muhammad, Islam's spread seemed unstoppable until the disastrous Battle of Toulouse followed by the Battle of Tours, in which Charles Martel, leader of the Franks, defeats the Muslim invaders....
32 min
21: Culture Shock! Travels of Ibn Fadlan
Follow the Abbasid Caliphate's administrator, Ibn Fadlan, as he travels from cosmopolitan Baghdad to the rustic wilds of central Asia. He brings money and instructions to King Almis of the Volga Bulgars, who has recently converted to Islam. Then he visits the Slavic Rus tribe for a bizarre and fascinating encounter....
31 min
22: Vladimir Smashes the Idols of the Rus
Observe the marriage of Vladimir, the Grand Duke of Kiev, to Princess Anna, the sister to Byzantine Emperor Basil II, a deal brokered so Vladimir will send mercenary troops to Constantinople. Following the wedding, Vladimir makes it his mission to convert his land to Christianity by fiat and suppress paganism, thus founding the Russian Orthodox Church....
33 min
23: Charlemagne Saves Leo III, Rogue Pope
Pope Leo III is something of a rascal, possibly a philanderer, and involved in shady business deals. See how his relationship with Charlemagne, king of the Franks, keeps him out of trouble with the Vatican Council and how he alters the course of history when he crowns Charlemagne during a nativity mass, thus giving birth to the notion of "Europe."...
31 min
24: Urban II Unleashes the First Crusade
Again and again, we see how history turns on a dime. Your journey ends in Avignon in 1095, when Pope Urban II gives a speech that shapes the next thousand years of European history. After calling the people to action, thousands take up arms and begin the long trek to fight the Muslims and retake Jerusalem....
33 min
