TELEVISION

Living History: Experiencing Great Events of the Ancient and Medieval Worlds

Series: Great Courses
4.1
(69)
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Episodes
24
Rating
TVPG
Year
2015
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

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.

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Episodes

1. Ramesses II: Heartbeat of History

30m

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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.

2. Marathon: The Persians Have Landed!

30m

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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.

3. Oresteia: Judgment at the Dionysia

30m

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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.

4. Attack on Attica: Pericles's Gamble

30m

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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.

5. Socrates on Trial: For the Defense

30m

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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.

6. Conspiracy! Murder of Philip II

30m

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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.

7. Alexander the Great: Punjab Revolt

30m

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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.

8. Pyrrhus: Deadly Dreams of Empire

30m

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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.

9. India's Ashoka the Great Repents

30m

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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.

10. Hannibal: Rome Holds Its Breath

30m

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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.

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