What do you think?
Rate this book
The World Was Never the Same: Events that Changed History
History is made and defined by landmark events - moments that irrevocably changed the course of human civilization. They have given us spiritual and political ideas; catastrophic battles and wars; scientific and technological advances; world leaders both influential and monstrous; and cultural works of unparalleled beauty. Now a series of 36 captivating lectures explores some of the most important and definitive events in the history of the world - events after which our world would never be the same. Taught by a remarkably gifted teacher with more than 25 teaching awards to his credit, these lectures form an intriguing and engaging tour of thousands of years of human history, from the creation of the Code of Hammurabi to the Battle of Lexington to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and beyond. It's a chance for you to gain new insights about world history from a truly riveting historian. Using his expert knowledge and impressive ability to draw out invaluable lessons from the past, Professor Fears has chosen the events he discusses based on three criteria: how the event in itself fundamentally changed history, how the aftermath of the event changed history, and how the event and its impact still resonate with us today. The result is a comprehensive and authoritative selection of subjects, each of which played a crucial role in transforming human civilization. Whether the event is an obvious or not-so-obvious choice, Professor Fears takes great care to tie each to the 21st century, pointing out just how influential these and other moments were in shaping who we are and how we live.
DVD
3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 24, 2024
In this series of 36 lectures, Professor J. Rufus Fears takes us on a journey of events, wars, discoveries, and famous people who changed the world forever. With gifted storytelling ability, he often contemporizes ancient accounts to demonstrate their ongoing applicability to our lives today. Whether you enjoy history or not, I think you’ll enjoy this series. I certainly did.
November 18, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed these lectures in this book. I learned so much about historical events that changed the world. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about historical events without reading huge history books. These lectures were easy to understood and very interesting. A+++++
February 24, 2023
In this Great Course, lecturer, J. Rufus Fears reviews Western civilization by focusing on 36 events or people, beginning with Hammurabi’s code of laws (about 1170 BCE) and ending with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.
Fears is an excellent storyteller. He begins each lecture with a bit of, sometimes, fanciful storytelling and then uses the highlighted event or person as a springboard to describe the era and historical perspective more broadly.
Fears’ review of history, from his personal perspective – very Western and very Christian - was enjoyable and often entertaining. He exudes a warmth which was recognized by the students at the University of Oklahoma as they selected the Professor of the Year three times.
I listened to one lecture a day and looked forward to each one.
Fears is an excellent storyteller. He begins each lecture with a bit of, sometimes, fanciful storytelling and then uses the highlighted event or person as a springboard to describe the era and historical perspective more broadly.
Fears’ review of history, from his personal perspective – very Western and very Christian - was enjoyable and often entertaining. He exudes a warmth which was recognized by the students at the University of Oklahoma as they selected the Professor of the Year three times.
I listened to one lecture a day and looked forward to each one.
July 20, 2023
I had the pleasure of watching 36 lectures by Professor Rufus Fears from the University of Oklahoma. These lectures were part of a course titled “The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History“, offered by The Great Courses. In this series, Professor Fears identified various individuals, ideas, and events that have had a profound impact on world history. His criteria for significance were that each event was important in and of itself, the world was forever altered after the event, and that the consequences of the event continue to affect us to this day.
Despite the many negative reviews about this course, I found it to be insightful. I had previously taken another course by Professor Fears titled “Life Lessons from The Great Books“, which was also excellent. Most of the negative reviews criticized him for “preaching” rather than teaching, or accused him of offering a biased perspective based on Christianity or neglecting significant events in the Middle East. However, it’s essential to approach these courses without bias, free from preconceived notions. While Professor Fears may have some biases, that shouldn’t deter us from gleaning valuable information from his teachings. If he omits certain topics, there are plenty of other resources where we can seek that information.
What I most enjoyed about Professor Fears’ lectures was his storytelling. His course began in 1750 BC and continued up until the events of September 11, 2001. He discussed the first court of law issued by Hammurabi, the birth of civilization in Mesopotamia, and the advent of hydraulic engineering, the invention of writing, metallurgy, and monumental architecture.
In addition to covering key events in history, the course also delved into different ages, such as the Axial Age (5th to 6th century BC), a time of religious renewal that saw the emergence of Buddhism, Confucianism, and the philosophy of Socrates. Interestingly, many of these philosophies and religions shared four fundamental moral principles: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.
Another topic Professor Fears covered was the debt crises, which he argues have been instrumental in shaping the course of history. He suggested that the first debt crisis in 594 BC was instrumental in the birth of democracy, while the debt crisis following the American War of Independence led to the drafting of the U.S Constitution. The subsequent debt crises in 1929 and 2007 resulted in significant reforms and societal changes.
Professor Fears’ lectures also encompassed the stories of significant figures in history, such as Hippocrates, whose oath is still recited in medical colleges today. Hippocrates revolutionized medicine by asserting that diseases were caused by infections and not divine curses. His thoughts on diet, lifestyle, and disease continue to shape modern medicine. The course also detailed the lives of historical figures like Julius Caesar and Jesus Christ, offering in-depth analyses of their impacts on the world.
Next, we discuss Constantine, whose conversion to Christianity was a game-changer that significantly boosted Christianity in the Roman Empire. Islam enters the narrative with the Angel Gabriel’s revelations to Prophet Muhammad, which led to the creation of the Quran. This was followed by the accomplishments of Muhammad’s followers, beginning with his caliphs and later different Islamic dynasties.
We then move to the University of Bologna, one of the oldest universities established in AD 1088. Its location in Northern Italy played a significant role in shaping history. We also explore other universities like Oxford and Cambridge. In 1283, we encounter Dante and his renowned work, The Divine Comedy.
We explore the devastating Black Death pandemic in 1347-1348, which killed 25 million people in a single year. This catastrophe likely originated in Mongolia, traveling via trade routes to Europe, devastating Italy and other places.
Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World in 1492 is next. It’s worth noting that Columbus faced legal troubles due to accusations of illegally executing Spaniards and brutalizing natives.
Next, we delve into the accomplishments of Michelangelo, who painted the Sistine Chapel and sculpted David. Beyond being an exceptional painter and sculptor, he was also an accomplished architect, most famously designing the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica. His multifaceted talents were exceptional for an individual.
We then explore Erasmus, whose teachings inspired Martin Luther, resulting in the Protestant Reformation. This event significantly changed subsequent history. His teachings reached many, thanks to the printing process invented by Gutenberg in 1450. This allowed messages to be disseminated widely. Both Erasmus and Thomas More were humanists.
When Saint Peter’s Basilica was commissioned by the Pope, he needed money. Indulgences were sold, promising the buyer absolution of sins and a guaranteed place in heaven. With more money, the purchaser could also save their loved ones from eternal damnation. Martin Luther protested that God’s grace alone was sufficient for salvation, making the sale of indulgences unnecessary.
My own assessment is that the Protestant Reformation aligns with Salafism in its denunciation of the importance of relics, shrines, or spiritual leaders. Though the Protestant Reformation occurred in the 16th century, and Salafism in the 19th to 20th centuries, the roots of Salafism stretch back much further.
In the next lecture, we discuss the defeat of the Spanish Empire by the English in 1588, and then the in 1683 Battle of Vienna, marking the start of the Ottoman Empire‘s decline. After the Ottoman Empire’s defeat in Vienna, they began losing territories, culminating in their dissolution after World War I.
The Battle of Lexington, a guerrilla war in the United States, resulted in the American Revolution. On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. The impacts of Abraham Lincoln‘s battle against slavery and the ensuing Civil War are also covered.
We then examine Adam Smith‘s revolutionary ideas on capitalism in 1776. He proposed that the primary tool of production was not land but the efficiency of the worker. In his book “The Wealth of Nations“, Smith posits that a nation’s wealth lies not in gold and silver but in its productivity.
Marx’s Communist Manifesto in 1848 focused on the freedom of the working class, concluding that the collective good takes precedence over individual freedoms.
In 1831, we consider Charles Darwin‘s “On the Origin of Species”, which introduced the concept of evolution in 1859. This led to the rise of social Darwinism, suggesting survival of the fittest in a capitalist context. Andrew Carnegie further developed this idea, asserting that only the most fit businesses will survive.
Louis Pasteur‘s Germ Theory fundamentally changed our understanding of disease. Before Pasteur, diseases were believed to spontaneously generate. Building on Pasteur’s work, penicillin was developed, and Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine. This progression from Germ Theory to penicillin to the polio vaccine was a game-changer in medicine.
The impacts of the Wright brothers‘ first flight in 1903 are also explored. Their accomplishment transformed not only private and public aviation but also the nature of warfare. They showcased their invention to a larger audience in 1907.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which sparked World War I, is discussed next. On one side of the conflict were Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. Opposing them were France, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, the United States, and some smaller nations.
The Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia following World War I marked the rise of communism, initially under Lenin and later under Joseph Stalin. The Bolsheviks were the majority faction of the Russian Communist Party and sought to introduce socialism in a communist framework, following Marxist philosophy and ideology.
The 1929 stock market crash devastated millions of families, a crisis only alleviated when President Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, effectively rescuing capitalism. This segues into the advent of World War II, with Hitler and Roosevelt both rising to power in 1933.
The creation of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project had significant impacts. Many scientists fled authoritarian Germany for other European countries and the United States, ironically leading the U.S. to develop the atomic bomb before Germany.
In 1949, Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China, enforcing communist rule. The Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan, still hoping to regain power, but this never materialized.
Finally, the lecture series covers the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King, who was inspired by Gandhi. Like Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inaugural speech, and John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech, Martin Luther King’s speeches are considered some of America’s greatest. Martin Luther King also chose to risk his life by advocating for the rights of African Americans during a time of high racial segregation.
The lecture series concludes with the September 11th attacks, which drastically changed global perceptions of security. It began with the chapter on Hammurabi in the Middle East and ended in the Middle East, spanning almost 4000 years of civilization. Dozens of important events, anecdotes, and stories were shared, each offering profound lessons. This information invites further exploration and study.
Overall, despite some criticisms, I found Professor Fears’ course engaging and informative, offering a rich tapestry of stories that shed light on the key events and figures that have shaped world history.
Overall, this was an informative series and time well spent.
Despite the many negative reviews about this course, I found it to be insightful. I had previously taken another course by Professor Fears titled “Life Lessons from The Great Books“, which was also excellent. Most of the negative reviews criticized him for “preaching” rather than teaching, or accused him of offering a biased perspective based on Christianity or neglecting significant events in the Middle East. However, it’s essential to approach these courses without bias, free from preconceived notions. While Professor Fears may have some biases, that shouldn’t deter us from gleaning valuable information from his teachings. If he omits certain topics, there are plenty of other resources where we can seek that information.
What I most enjoyed about Professor Fears’ lectures was his storytelling. His course began in 1750 BC and continued up until the events of September 11, 2001. He discussed the first court of law issued by Hammurabi, the birth of civilization in Mesopotamia, and the advent of hydraulic engineering, the invention of writing, metallurgy, and monumental architecture.
In addition to covering key events in history, the course also delved into different ages, such as the Axial Age (5th to 6th century BC), a time of religious renewal that saw the emergence of Buddhism, Confucianism, and the philosophy of Socrates. Interestingly, many of these philosophies and religions shared four fundamental moral principles: wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.
Another topic Professor Fears covered was the debt crises, which he argues have been instrumental in shaping the course of history. He suggested that the first debt crisis in 594 BC was instrumental in the birth of democracy, while the debt crisis following the American War of Independence led to the drafting of the U.S Constitution. The subsequent debt crises in 1929 and 2007 resulted in significant reforms and societal changes.
Professor Fears’ lectures also encompassed the stories of significant figures in history, such as Hippocrates, whose oath is still recited in medical colleges today. Hippocrates revolutionized medicine by asserting that diseases were caused by infections and not divine curses. His thoughts on diet, lifestyle, and disease continue to shape modern medicine. The course also detailed the lives of historical figures like Julius Caesar and Jesus Christ, offering in-depth analyses of their impacts on the world.
Next, we discuss Constantine, whose conversion to Christianity was a game-changer that significantly boosted Christianity in the Roman Empire. Islam enters the narrative with the Angel Gabriel’s revelations to Prophet Muhammad, which led to the creation of the Quran. This was followed by the accomplishments of Muhammad’s followers, beginning with his caliphs and later different Islamic dynasties.
We then move to the University of Bologna, one of the oldest universities established in AD 1088. Its location in Northern Italy played a significant role in shaping history. We also explore other universities like Oxford and Cambridge. In 1283, we encounter Dante and his renowned work, The Divine Comedy.
We explore the devastating Black Death pandemic in 1347-1348, which killed 25 million people in a single year. This catastrophe likely originated in Mongolia, traveling via trade routes to Europe, devastating Italy and other places.
Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World in 1492 is next. It’s worth noting that Columbus faced legal troubles due to accusations of illegally executing Spaniards and brutalizing natives.
Next, we delve into the accomplishments of Michelangelo, who painted the Sistine Chapel and sculpted David. Beyond being an exceptional painter and sculptor, he was also an accomplished architect, most famously designing the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica. His multifaceted talents were exceptional for an individual.
We then explore Erasmus, whose teachings inspired Martin Luther, resulting in the Protestant Reformation. This event significantly changed subsequent history. His teachings reached many, thanks to the printing process invented by Gutenberg in 1450. This allowed messages to be disseminated widely. Both Erasmus and Thomas More were humanists.
When Saint Peter’s Basilica was commissioned by the Pope, he needed money. Indulgences were sold, promising the buyer absolution of sins and a guaranteed place in heaven. With more money, the purchaser could also save their loved ones from eternal damnation. Martin Luther protested that God’s grace alone was sufficient for salvation, making the sale of indulgences unnecessary.
My own assessment is that the Protestant Reformation aligns with Salafism in its denunciation of the importance of relics, shrines, or spiritual leaders. Though the Protestant Reformation occurred in the 16th century, and Salafism in the 19th to 20th centuries, the roots of Salafism stretch back much further.
In the next lecture, we discuss the defeat of the Spanish Empire by the English in 1588, and then the in 1683 Battle of Vienna, marking the start of the Ottoman Empire‘s decline. After the Ottoman Empire’s defeat in Vienna, they began losing territories, culminating in their dissolution after World War I.
The Battle of Lexington, a guerrilla war in the United States, resulted in the American Revolution. On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. The impacts of Abraham Lincoln‘s battle against slavery and the ensuing Civil War are also covered.
We then examine Adam Smith‘s revolutionary ideas on capitalism in 1776. He proposed that the primary tool of production was not land but the efficiency of the worker. In his book “The Wealth of Nations“, Smith posits that a nation’s wealth lies not in gold and silver but in its productivity.
Marx’s Communist Manifesto in 1848 focused on the freedom of the working class, concluding that the collective good takes precedence over individual freedoms.
In 1831, we consider Charles Darwin‘s “On the Origin of Species”, which introduced the concept of evolution in 1859. This led to the rise of social Darwinism, suggesting survival of the fittest in a capitalist context. Andrew Carnegie further developed this idea, asserting that only the most fit businesses will survive.
Louis Pasteur‘s Germ Theory fundamentally changed our understanding of disease. Before Pasteur, diseases were believed to spontaneously generate. Building on Pasteur’s work, penicillin was developed, and Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine. This progression from Germ Theory to penicillin to the polio vaccine was a game-changer in medicine.
The impacts of the Wright brothers‘ first flight in 1903 are also explored. Their accomplishment transformed not only private and public aviation but also the nature of warfare. They showcased their invention to a larger audience in 1907.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which sparked World War I, is discussed next. On one side of the conflict were Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. Opposing them were France, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, the United States, and some smaller nations.
The Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia following World War I marked the rise of communism, initially under Lenin and later under Joseph Stalin. The Bolsheviks were the majority faction of the Russian Communist Party and sought to introduce socialism in a communist framework, following Marxist philosophy and ideology.
The 1929 stock market crash devastated millions of families, a crisis only alleviated when President Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, effectively rescuing capitalism. This segues into the advent of World War II, with Hitler and Roosevelt both rising to power in 1933.
The creation of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project had significant impacts. Many scientists fled authoritarian Germany for other European countries and the United States, ironically leading the U.S. to develop the atomic bomb before Germany.
In 1949, Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China, enforcing communist rule. The Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan, still hoping to regain power, but this never materialized.
Finally, the lecture series covers the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King, who was inspired by Gandhi. Like Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inaugural speech, and John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech, Martin Luther King’s speeches are considered some of America’s greatest. Martin Luther King also chose to risk his life by advocating for the rights of African Americans during a time of high racial segregation.
The lecture series concludes with the September 11th attacks, which drastically changed global perceptions of security. It began with the chapter on Hammurabi in the Middle East and ended in the Middle East, spanning almost 4000 years of civilization. Dozens of important events, anecdotes, and stories were shared, each offering profound lessons. This information invites further exploration and study.
Overall, despite some criticisms, I found Professor Fears’ course engaging and informative, offering a rich tapestry of stories that shed light on the key events and figures that have shaped world history.
Overall, this was an informative series and time well spent.
December 18, 2020
Should have been subtitled "Events That Changed American History". I learned a lot -- I had not known the history behind Julius Caesar's assassination, for example, or what Martin Luther had really done -- but I was disappointed to hear almost nothing about the Persians, to hear airport security mentioned as one of Muhammad's lasting legacies, to hear Lenin called a terrorist.... It seemed at times like the lecturer was trying to see just how edgy he could be with some of these topics. Pretty disappointing.
April 23, 2021
Truly illuminating lessons on the 36 events that changed history: Though they are all well-known, it took a master teacher like Prof. Fears to explain why they are worth including in this course. For me, one of the most illuminating lessons is about the Wright brothers' first flight, since Prof. Fears made it so easy to understand their feat in overcoming the obstacles of flying. The last lesson, where he neatly and coherently weaves all the events together into practical guidelines in our personal life, is wonderfully world-class!
May 3, 2021
I tried listening on Audible as my family and I have really enjoyed several of the Great Courses this way. Sadly, we just could not enjoy this narrator’s voice or style. It really detracted from the subject matter. We abandoned it quite early on.
October 28, 2020
Racist American Propaganda!
December 21, 2020
Not very good. He's incapable of examining certain "events" (Confucius is not an event!) without bringing in a clearly Christian, Western bias. I didn't finish it.
March 28, 2023
Very white, western (American), male perspective, but still generally informative and interesting.
April 22, 2023
No issues with the 36 events chosen for their impact on history.
June 19, 2024
Romantic, but too light on actual history. If you’re looking for a classical circle jerk this one is for you.
December 13, 2024
An excellent series which make far reaching connections and illustrates patterns through history. Well presented and compelling.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews