High School Level - World History

The Fertile Crescent to the American Revolution

By: Linwood Thompson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Linwood Thompson

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Give your student a time-travelling tour of world history with these 30 brilliant lectures that cover the full story of human civilization, analyzing geography, technology, economies, social institutions, and cultural achievements.

Every lecture is delivered in special period characters often invented to illustrate the life of their times. Professor Thompson speaks and acts like them. He actually becomes them! He's such an entertaining presenter that you’ll learn without knowing it.

Throughout these lectures, students will discover how the Nile River and its surrounding deserts shaped the history of ancient Egypt; the importance of myths and literature, such as Homer’s Iliad, to the people of ancient Greece; how ancient, isolated, imperial China developed its unique culture; the birth of Athenian democracy; the resurrection of the humanities during the Renaissance; early America’s break from the British Empire; and more.

These lectures are too good to restrict to high school students. Adults will enjoy these performances too. And history, in the hands of these many characters, has far more "sticking power" than any chronological narrative you've ever heard.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©1995 The Great Courses (P)1995 The Teaching Company, LLC

A Must Read for all Young and Old will enjoy this

This book is an outstanding review of World History. Linwood Thompson speaks in different dialects to match the part of the world he is talking about, I will read this book over and over. Most of us soon forget how world battles and wars connect with us today. The book is funny and really catches your interest. I will remember the history of the World for a long time.

A humorous view of history

I liked the chronological organization of the histories of the different countries that were covered. The tongue in cheek humor was entertaining. Good coverage of the religious conflicts

Gimmicky with the accents

The accents detract from rather than add to the performance. Otherwise great information and structure.

I am not a hater, but this turns religion to facts

Once I got to the Christianity chapter I almost stopped listening. There is no non-religious historian consensus that establishes Jesus' crucifixion. he is telling g this story, not as a religious parable, which is ok by me. people can believe whatever they want. But this error now makes me doubt the rest of his lessons. he is fantastic to listen to, but I hoped I was only going to hear non-religious facts. Christians, don't hate me, I have no ill intent toward any of you. everyone gets to think how they want to think. I don't argue about his information on the rise of Christianity. but at least for other religious he would preface hi ls lecture on "this is what (insert religion here) thought.

Nice effort.

This work will hopefully encourage the readers to dig a little deeper into history and how things happen.

Horrible voices!!

I listened to the sample of this and thought it would be great. Unfortunately, this guys does a bunch of characters to give his lectures and they are horrible!! He does accents and takes on absurd inflection. The material is good but the presentation is so annoying I can’t hardly listen. Terribly disappointed!!

Annoying fake accents, occasionally outdated

This lecture series is apparently 25 years old, so it's somewhat outdated in terms of its historiography and focus. Moreover, the accents get really, really irritating after a while. We don't need characters for every lecture. It might entertain small children, but I can't see high school students or above enjoying it.