The World Was Never the Same: Events that Changed History

by J. Rufus Fears

History is made and defined by landmark events such as these—moments that irrevocably changed the course of human civilization. While many of us are taught that anonymous social, political, and economic forces are the driving factors behind events of the past, acclaimed historian and award-winning Professor J. Rufus Fears believes that it’s individuals, acting alone or together, who alter the course of history.

LECTURES


36 Lectures

1-Hammurabi Issues a Code of Law (1750 B.C.)

2-Moses and Monotheism (1220 B.C.)

3-The Enlightenment of the Buddha (526 B.C.)

4-Confucius Instructs a Nation (553–479 B.C.)

5-Solon—Democracy Begins (594 B.C.)

6-Marathon—Democracy Triumphant (490 B.C.)

7-Hippocrates Takes an Oath (430 B.C.)

8-Caesar Crosses the Rubicon (49 B.C.)

9-Jesus—The Trial of a Teacher (A.D. 36)

10-Constantine I Wins a Battle (A.D. 312)

11-Muhammad Moves to Medina—The Hegira (A.D. 622)

12-Bologna Gets a University (1088)

13-Dante Sees Beatrice (1283)

14-Black Death—Pandemics and History (1348)

15-Columbus Finds a New World (1492)

16-Michelangelo Accepts a Commission (1508)

17-Erasmus—A Book Sets Europe Ablaze (1516)

18-Luther’s New Course Changes History (1517)

19-The Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588)

20-The Battle of Vienna (1683)

21-The Battle of Lexington (1775)

22-General Pickett Leads a Charge (1863)

23-Adam Smith (1776) versus Karl Marx (1867)

24-Charles Darwin Takes an Ocean Voyage (1831)

25-Louis Pasteur Cures a Child (1885)

26-Two Brothers Take a Flight (1903)

27-The Archduke Makes a State Visit (1914)

28-One Night in Petrograd (1917)

29-The Day the Stock Market Crashed (1929)

30-Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany (1933)

31-Franklin Roosevelt Becomes President (1933)

32-Mao Zedong Begins His Long March (1934)

33-The Atomic Bomb Is Dropped (1945)

34-John F. Kennedy Is Assassinated (1963)

35-Dr. King Leads a March (1963)

36-September 11, 2001

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Historical, Germany, Politics, Education

19 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dr. J. Rufus Fears is David Ross Boyd Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma, where he holds the G. T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty. He also serves as David and Ann Brown Distinguished Fellow of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Before joining the faculty at the University of Oklahoma, Professor Fears was Professor of History and Distinguished Faculty Research Lecturer at Indiana University, and Professor of Classical Studies and Chair of the Department of Classical Studies at Boston University.

An acclaimed teacher and scholar with 25 awards for teaching excellence, Professor Fears was chosen Professor of the Year on three occasions by students at the University of Oklahoma. His other accolades include the Medal for Excellence in College and University Teaching from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) Great Plains Region Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the UCEA's National Award for Teaching Excellence.

Professor Fears's books and monographs include The Cult of Jupiter and Roman Imperial Ideology and The Theology of Victory at Rome. He edited a three-volume edition of Selected Writings of Lord Acton. His discussions of the Great Books have appeared in newspapers across the country and have aired on national television and radio programs.

Reviews

[Alissa Thorne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I gave up on this one too quickly, but the majority of the first five lectures told bible stories as factual history. I get that learning about history means learning quite a bit about religion in general, and Christianity in particular. But I think there's a pretty solid line between "this is what people of the time believed and how it influenced events" and "here is the story of Moses parting the red sea, and it probably happened more or less the way it was laid out in the bible."

When referring to the validity of bible stories, the teacher repeatedly said, "there is evidence to suggest that these events took place." However, that was the extent to which he would back up his extraordinary claims. Claiming that miraculous stories from the bible really happened and not bothering to support them in any legitimate way made me question the rest of the course, and left me with little desire to invest any further time in it.

[Susan Heskin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to give up on this about 1/3 way through. I have listened to about 6 or 7 Great Courses from the Teaching Company, and have given them all 5 star ratings. But sadly, as a former history major, I do not believe this product qualifies as an academic historical course. It might be okay for mildly-interested lay people. The way the instructor describes these important turning points in history make them sound like fables or fairy tales: no sources cited, huge generalizations, etc. He cites the Bible as a historical source, ignoring contradictory comptemporary primary docs. When the professor said that Judea petitioned the Roman Empire to annex it, I just had to leave off...

This product is not up to the usual good standards of the Teaching Company, and I'm glad I got it through the library and did not pay for it.

[R. August · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took a little getting into, especially considering some glaring inaccuracies early on: While the translation of the Buddha's famous phrase is traditionally "life is suffering" I wouldn't have expected a Harvard professor to not know that the translation of "suffering" is imprecise. "Dissatisfying" is a better translation. For example when you sit on a plane for 13 hours you don't want to sit any more. This is dissatisfying, but it isn't suffering. This (not only physical) dissatisfaction is what the Buddha was talking about, not what we would classify as "suffering" today. Second. Confucius did not have the same golden rule (do unto others...) as Christianity. He said "Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you." You might think this a semantic difference, but it's not - hence it's name "the silver rule." Under both the golden and the silver rule you wouldn't torture someone else. However if someone needs help you must help them under the golden rule, but as long as you are not actively harming that person you have no obligation to help them under the silver rule - that's why in China, unless there's a middle school student fresh out of their civics class, no one will help an old women who drops her groceries - since you're not actively harming her you aren't violating Confucian teachings and so are morally vindicated to do nothing.

There were a few other misrepresentations like this, but over all I was able to forgive these given the scope of knowledge required to cover all 36 points covering history, politics, art, religion, economics, and military issues from all around the world. I enjoyed the story telling mode of this work as well as many of the direct quotations that were worked into the narrative.

[Abdulaziz Fagih · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst TTC lectures

Weak as historical account.
Weak in stating what people believe.
Some of the event not even history changing (ex. 1st lecture Hammurabi code of law was long forgotten until it was exuviated in new age).
The lecturer very biased and he’s not even trying to hide it.


the only plus is that the lecturer knows how to tell a good story

[AnnaG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed several Great Courses in audio books and had high hopes for this course, but it wasn't all I'd hoped for. A better title would be "Events that were important to the formation and current political climate of the United States".

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my second time around with this set (the first was in 2012), in the beginning of my Teaching Company experience, before I had any intention of any 'reviewing' lectures. Since listening to these Dr Fears' lectures (twice), I have experienced many other lectures series over the years from many other, better lecturers of history. However, Dr Fears particular style might appeal to a wide audience of those interested in history, but maybe not those who want to know details and innuendos about causes and effects. Dr Fears offers opinions and suppositions, sometimes with a jingoistic and religious overtones...that may or may not be acceptable for some learners, just not everyone.

The Turning Point lectures (Armstrong and Liulevicius) are particularly good and cover much of the same ground that the good Dr Fears covers, just a little more professionally. Each historian has his/her own idea of important happenings in our past that are more relevant than others, as well as different approaches of presentation. Dr Fears' approach is folksy, often involving confederate rebel 'yells' or Nazi German folk songs, that doesn't appeal to me...much.

Having said that, I do recommend the series to those who enjoy a folksy, patriotic, semi-christian approach that may be more US philosophical than dispassionate history. Please read other, much better written reviews on the Great Courses for a larger, more well-balanced point-of-view.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite great courses offering, but still enjoyable and informative. I've read a bunch of the bad reviews, and I get the complaints about the choice of events. But honestly, picking 36 events that changed the world is like picking your 5 favorite bands. You're always going to offend someone and leave many second guessing your choices.

[Trung Nguyen Dang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great course. Great delivery by Professor Rofus Fears. He's such a great story teller that makes these events interesting to follow.
The content is also nice and consists of about a third religious events, a third historical warfare events, and a third scientific events. Lots of people seem to have rated the course low at 1 star because of the course including religious events but I think, after listening to the course, that it was right to include that as part of historical events due to their impacts.
Highly recommended, if you're open-minded and not so particular about religions.

[Aaron Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Hammurabi Issues a Code of Law (1750 B.C.)

With its concepts of minimum wage, family law, and victims’ rights, the code provided many fundamental elements that can still be found in today’s legal systems.

2. Moses and Monotheism (1220 B.C.)

Monotheism is a predominant religious tradition throughout much of the world, and its emergence dates back to the era of Moses. Here, discover how the life of Moses—including such iconic events as the Exodus and the issuing of the Ten Commandments—set the stage for three great religions that continue to influence adherents worldwide.

3. The Enlightenment of the Buddha (526 B.C.)

Explore another fundamental religious event that forever changed the world: the development of Buddhism through the teachings of Siddartha Gautama. The messages of this world faith—including leaving behind all that makes you angry and treating everyone with kindness—have helped billions ponder the meaning of their lives.

4. Confucius Instructs a Nation (553–479 B.C.)

Confucius was an ancient Chinese scholar who lost his job for speaking the truth and thus shaped the history of one of today’s most important nations. In revealing how Confucius shaped the world through the Dao (or “Way”), Professor Fears shows why all civilizations are indebted to this thinker and his profound philosophy.

5. Solon—Democracy Begins (594 B.C.)

The democratic ideals that form the core of Western civilization wouldn’t exist without Solon, the ancient Greek ruler responsible for introducing the first truly balanced democracy to Athens. Learn how this system was structured, why troubling economic conditions made the city-state ripe for political reform, and more.

6. Marathon—Democracy Triumphant (490 B.C.)

After democracy was created, it had to be protected. And no battle was more important to defending democracy in its formative stages than the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. Relive the clash between Athens and the massive Persian Empire; a conflict that involved decisive leadership and surprise tactics.

7. Hippocrates Takes an Oath (430 B.C.)

Thousands of years after it was first spoken, the Hippocratic Oath is still revered by doctors around the world. Travel back to ancient Athens and investigate how Hippocrates revolutionized our understanding of medicine—just in time for the Great Plague of Athens, which devastated the city-state in 430 B.C.

8. Caesar Crosses the Rubicon (49 B.C.)

Why was Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon River in 49 B.C. such a momentous event in world history? What was the story behind this dramatic moment? And how did it bring about a political concept that would dominate Western civilization for the next 1,800 years? Find out in this fascinating lecture.

9. Jesus—The Trial of a Teacher (A.D. 36)

In A.D. 36, Jesus of Nazareth was put on trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate—and the verdict would forever alter the course of human civilization and spirituality. Follow the path of Christianity’s founder and examine why he was considered to be, at the time, such a revolutionary figure.

10. Constantine I Wins a Battle (A.D. 312)

Travel back to A.D. October 28, 312. Against a background of fierce Christian persecution, Constantine marches into Rome and becomes history’s first Christian emperor. In the process, this iconic—yet despotic—leader transformed his faith into a powerful religious force that would spread throughout Europe and the Near East.

11. Muhammad Moves to Medina—The Hegira (A.D. 622)

Islam is one of the world’s great monotheistic faiths, and in today’s world, is sometimes misunderstood. The spread of Islam around the world began in A.D. 622 with Muhammad’s flight into the city of Medina. This momentous date and its implications are the subject of this captivating lecture.

12. Bologna Gets a University (1088)

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.

13. Dante Sees Beatrice (1283)

Discover how Dante’s love for Beatrice—and the epic poem he would write to honor her—brought about the birth of the Renaissance. One of the most important works of literature ever written, The Divine Comedy focuses on the rebirth of the human spirit through the power of God’s love.

14. Black Death—Pandemics and History (1348)

Between 1347 and 1348, the Black Death killed 25 million people—nearly one-third of the population of Europe. Is it possible for tiny germs to transform the course of history? Or are humans above the ultimate destructive force of disease? Find out as you relive the traumatic story of this devastating event.

15. Columbus Finds a New World (1492)

Learn how Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the New World in October of 1492 set the stage for much of modern Western history. The story behind this iconic expedition—from the earliest attempts to gain political support to the last days of the explorer’s life—is one of high adventure.

16. Michelangelo Accepts a Commission (1508)

Just as important to history are beautiful events like the creation of artistic masterpieces. One of the most supreme of these: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Here, Professor Fears guides you through some of the work’s many powerful religious images, each of which illustrates the High Renaissance ideal of absolute beauty.

17. Erasmus—A Book Sets Europe Ablaze (1516)

Witness as Erasmus’s edition of the New Testament, which translated the Bible from Latin back into its original Greek, revolutionizes Christianity and paves the way for the Protestant Reformation. Along the way, learn what this work owes to the humanist ideology of the time and the invention of the printing press.

18. Luther’s New Course Changes History (1517)

One of the most defining moments in religious history was the Protestant Reformation. And it all started with the subject of this lecture: All Hallows Eve, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of Wittenberg University’s chapel and challenged Europe’s most powerful religious and political institutions.

19. The Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588)

One of the most decisive naval battles in human history, the defeat of the Spanish armada at the hands of the British navy, marked Britain’s transition from island nation into global empire. How did this epic clash come about? And what strategies did the British use to beat back the Spanish forces?

20. The Battle of Vienna (1683)

Using his expert storytelling abilities, Professor Fears recreates the 1683 Battle of Vienna—a defining moment in the struggle between the values of the Middle East and the values of the West. This battle between the Ottoman and Holy Roman empires would also create geopolitical tensions that remain even today.

21. The Battle of Lexington (1775)

The United States of America, the first modern nation founded on moral principles, wouldn’t exist without the battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Explore the moment that sparked the birth of our country, and learn how it led to a declaration of independence and a full-blown revolution against Great Britain.

22. General Pickett Leads a Charge (1863)

Had the Confederacy won the Civil War, the history of the United States would have been vastly different. And the reason for the Confederacy’s ultimate decline and defeat was the iconic Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863—the subject of this dynamic lecture on a pivotal moment in American history.

23. Adam Smith (1776) versus Karl Marx (1867)

Separated by almost a century, Adam Smith and Karl Marx could not have been more different in their economic views. And yet, as you discover, their respective works—Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and Marx’s Das Kapital—established two conflicting views of capitalism that are still with us today.

24. Charles Darwin Takes an Ocean Voyage (1831)

Encounter another book that shook the foundations of history: Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. The product of an ocean voyage in 1831, the work described the theory of evolution by natural selection, an idea that would revolutionize not only the science and culture of Darwin’s time, but of the 20th century as well.

25. Louis Pasteur Cures a Child (1885)

In this lecture, Professor Fears explains why Louis Pasteur’s germ theory of disease changed history and, with it, the life of every man, woman, and child on the planet. It’s an engaging medical story that transformed rabies, anthrax, cholera, and more from immediate death sentences into conquerable illnesses.

26. Two Brothers Take a Flight (1903)

Humanity’s conquest of the air began with a single flight taken by two brothers from Ohio. Discover the story behind the Wright brothers’ 1903 first flight at Kitty Hawk, an unprecedented event that would have enormous implications for the future of commercial travel, warfare, and space flight.

27. The Archduke Makes a State Visit (1914)

With the 1914 assassination of Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the stage was set for World War I and for the turmoil that would last most of the 20th century. Travel back to Sarajevo as political terrorists commit one of the most shocking murders in modern history.

28. One Night in Petrograd (1917)

November, 1917: The Bolsheviks seized power from the broken Russian Empire. What emerged was the Soviet Union, which would become one of the most powerful geopolitical forces of the 20th century. Unearth the roots of Communist Russia and the revolutionary moment that turned the dream of a Communist state into a bitter reality.

29. The Day the Stock Market Crashed (1929)

It was a devastating economic event that shattered the lives of millions and created a tidal wave of effects around the world. Here, experience the stock market crash of October 29, 1929, from the personal perspective of an everyday American family; also, learn how it set the stage for events covered in subsequent lectures.

*30. Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany (1933)

Professor Fears’s theme in this lecture is Adolph Hitler’s inauguration as chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. Once in power, this political leader would unleash both World War II and the Holocaust. So how—and why—did history’s greatest monster gain such a strong hold over the German people?

31. Franklin Roosevelt Becomes President (1933)

The very same year Hitler became chancellor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became president of the United States. Focusing on the honest and inspiring inauguration speech delivered on March 4, learn how Roosevelt instilled hope in a disillusioned and wounded nation, as well as prepared it to face the tough times ahead.

32. The Atomic Bomb Is Dropped (1945)

Visit the birth of the Atomic Age with the explosion of the first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. It was a terrifying moment in world history that had an untold impact on the future of warfare, science, and geopolitics.

33. Mao Zedong Begins His Long March (1934)

No one in 1900 would have predicted that, a century later, China would become one of the world’s superpowers. And it all started in 1934 with the rise of Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party—whose authoritarian rule is the heart of this intriguing lecture.

34. John F. Kennedy Is Assassinated (1963)

Why, and how, did the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, change the course of history? Find out the answer by exploring this iconic leader’s rise to political success, his handling of important international crises—and the tragic day that signaled an end to America’s innocence.

35. Dr. King Leads a March (1963)

Along with the Gettysburg Address and the inaugural addresses of Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Professor Fears retells the life of the civil rights leader behind this landmark moment, along with the ways he sought to heal a racially divided nation.

36. 9-11-2001

Conclude the course with a pointed examination of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the new world they created. Afterward, meditate on the lessons learned from the past 35 lectures and come to realize one of the most fundamental lessons of history.

[Kevin Hanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would listen to any set of lectures this professor gives. I learn so much!

[Nilesh Jasani · Rating 1 out of 5]

A polemic rather than an objective history lecture.

To start with, the title is wrong. Rather than marking three dozen events that most changed the world, the author discusses the largest global events that led to the US as it exists today. Assuming that this is the fault of the reader who misunderstood the title, complete omissions of industrial revolution, French revolution, the British Empire or even the rise (and fall of Hitler) but finding space for Dante, printing press (which becomes a European invention without qualification), FDR inauguration (over and above the section for 1929 crash) means the series can barely qualify as an adequate account of events that shaped the Western history too.

The professor - in his own words - is a proud patriot. Absolutely nothing wrong with it except that he feels little need to be unbiased. Almost all the descriptions of the shaping up of "the great nation" (phrase used repeatedly) are so rose-tinted with the barely hidden awe of the Democratic Party values that there is no objective analysis of the events picked. The reasons provided for the 1929 crashes are some of the most laughable ever read. The justification given to the Japan bombs, the regrettable tone describing the Prophet, the adulation of FDR/Kennedy, the reinterpretations that make the slavery to first end in the US (while forgetting the work done in Europe) or the praise of successful racism US battles as pioneering while ignoring the better starts elsewhere - essentially, the series rarely demonstrates that it is a work of a learned scholar.

And making all of this worse is the evocative and emotive style that was perhaps preferred for simplification but ends up taking away far more from students interested in learning than partaking.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fears' lectures are enjoyable as much for their story-telling quality as for their actual analysis. At times he sounds more like a grandfather telling stories around the campfire than a professor in a classroom. Even so, he draws out common themes throughout the lectures and shows the inter-relatedness of the various events. I'm not sure I agree with him on all 36 events that changed history and I certainly don't agree with all his political views (which inevitably color his perspective), but the lectures are informative and interesting and certainly easy to work through.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very interested events were selected by Professor Fears. He not only told the story of each of them, but he gave some good background around each of them. One could always argue with the selections, but he gave a good mix of scientific, artistic, political, and military ones.

As an audio selection, Professor Fears was very easy to listen to, speaking clearly and distinctly.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible: Loved, loved, loved!! This "audio course" was well worth the time invested. Each lecture was the perfect length for visiting in between books, as an accompaniment to lunch or while ironing etc...
Next? I am now a convert!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fears is great. Listen to all his courses.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at first whether I like the lecturer, but as the lectures went on I appreciated him more and more.

[Tamminh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best course I've taken: clear and relatable and encompassing wide-ranging subjects, from history to culture to religion to art to science to economics to politics!

[Phildiggety · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you miss your college history classes, this brings you right back with the added benefit of no tests to worry about!

[Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of lectures on a pretty traditional "western civilization" view of what mattered in history, even though a few oriental examples are included. Probably 2.5 stars.

I'm a sucker for lists and books about "greatest battles in history" or "most important events". So I tried this even though I've previously found Professor Fears a bit hard to listen to. That was still true; I listened to these lectures in surges.

It's not bad, just not deep. Fears acknowledges right at the beginning that he is a believer in the "great people make history" view, and even though this is couched in terms of events ("Hammurabi releases a code") the focus is more on the great men of history. And they are all men. Even when he addresses an event that doesn't have a person involved (for example, the Black Death), he expresses skepticism that a blind force (like disease) made a major difference in the world. (So why include it only to disparage it?)

In small doses, Fears is entertaining. He tries to act out the critical events and speeches. He is clear about what he believes and what he thinks is overblown. I like his unabashed patriotism (I share it), and his clear, short treatment of unnecessary complications in these events. For example, I was intrigued with his reaction to the old canard that the U.S is "a republic not a democracy" pointing out that these are just the Latin and Greek words for the same thing, as if I were saying "I worship Jupiter, not Zeus". He has some interesting perspectives.

But. The level of depth about each event is not great, just overviews of the events. There is little to show why he picked these events and not, for example, women's suffrage, the Khanate in India, or the discovery of DNA. His events are likely the same ones (except for 9/11) that might have been chosen for lectures in 1975, very conventional choices. I suspect that is partly convention and Western canon perspective rather than because these are the only choices for the most important events that changed history. And in a few cases where I knew the details from my own reading and teaching, his choice of details to emphasize was just off enough for me to think it skewed the meaning of aspects of the event.

I learned little from these lectures that I didn't know from my college class in World History. If you've never had that class, I'd recommend this, but otherwise not.

[Don Heiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2010 The Teaching Company released University of Oklahoma Professor J. Rufus Fears course “The World Was Never the Same: Events that Changed History.” His 36 lecture course begins with a discussion of the law code of Hammurabi in 1749 B.C. This lecture is followed by lectures on the monotheism of Moses, the teachings of Buddha and Confucius, and the Solon Athenian democracy of 594+ B.C. Professor Fears then discusses the early Roman Empire, the coming of Christ, and the founding of the Muslim faith. Following these lectures, Professor Fears discusses Dante, the Black Plague, Columbus founding of a “new world”, and the religious reformation of the 16th century. These lectures set the stage for exploring Karl Marx and Adam Smith economics, advanced technologies, and the World Wars of the 20th century. He concludes his course with discussions about Kennedy’s presidency, Martin Luther King’s social justice legacy, and the events of September 11, 2001. These concluding lectures also feature Rufus Fear’s perspective about how the events of the past impact the events of today. Each of the course lectures are 30 minutes long; and the two transcript/guide books have 300 pages. These books include bibliographies, historic timelines, and a glossary of terms. The books do not have footnotes nor annotated page references. (P)

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The negative, one-star reviews are all correct. The more positive reviews about these particular lectures being enjoyable if you don't mind simplistic story-telling in place of more rigorously presented history and won't be put off by the lecturer's pompous style, clear cultural and religious biases, and lack of critical, reflective awareness of self or history...are also valid. Some people clearly like these lectures. I wanted something to listen to on a long drive and so learned to tolerate and even enjoy some of them, but often had to just shut them off. From the perspective of academic and intellectual quality they fall disappointingly short of the standard I expect from Great Courses. I'm surprised the Great Courses company chose to use Professor Fears and more surprised that he's billed as one of their most popular lecturers. It seems a clear case of putting popularity and profit above integrity.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are 36 moments in human history that had a profound and lasting impact on the world. Fears works hard not to make all of the events military or political. We see legal innovations, the birth of religious movements, the founding of higher education, the creation of works of art, battling economic theories, and so much more. The book does focus very heavily upon developments in the western world but while one could certainly quibble with many items on the list, they are all unquestionably influential occurrences.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Aaliyah Corley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lectures Rufus Fears gave were great and never boring. The music at the start of every lecture was very inspiring and now I cant get it out of my head. In some lectures I new what was going to happen but he introduced new information that I found interesting. I loved the fact that he tries to tell us why some of the people did what they did, giving us a new point of view.

[Lian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book this this is necessarily going to be controversial, because of the biases of the author. He himself admits bias towards the United States, and as such, I feel like too much emphasis was on it, especially at the end.

That said, he presents his information in an accessible and entertaining way (this is not the first Great Courses of his that I've listened to), and I learned a lot.

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a look at history by tracing landmark events that redefined the world. These events are occurrences that made the world different. That is why this work is called “The World Was Never the Same.”

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great subjects but focuses on Western Civilization and barely mentions the rest of the world

[Hpsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Some lectures better than others, but still my favorite professor!

[Cameron]

dnf

[Enrico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on some events that may or may not have changed history. There is a US bias in here.

[P H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes! Centered on European descendants, way too rosy-eyes about the truly bad periods, and overall rather boring, this felt more like a work of someone celebrating himself rather than history.