The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World

By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Garland

Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.

The past truly comes alive as you take a series of imaginative leaps into the world of history's anonymous citizens, people such as a Greek soldier marching into battle in the front row of a phalanx; an Egyptian woman putting on makeup before attending an evening party with her husband; a Greek citizen relaxing at a drinking party with the likes of Socrates; a Roman slave captured in war and sent to work in the mines; and a Celtic monk scurrying away with the Book of Kells during a Viking invasion.

Put yourself in the sandals of ordinary people and discover what it was like to be among history's 99%. What did these everyday people do for a living? What was their home like? What did they eat? What did they wear? What did they do to relax? What were their beliefs about marriage? Religion? The afterlife?

This extraordinary journey takes you across space and time in an effort to be another person - someone with whom you might not think you have anything at all in common - and come away with an incredible sense of interconnectedness. You'll see the range of possibilities of what it means to be human, making this a journey very much worth taking.

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

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

Fascinating

I loved every minute of this. I hope to find the time to relisten at some point. Robert Garland is a great scholar and a dynamic speaker.

Amazing

As all the great courses I’ve listened to this one is amazing. Depth and stories from an expert who loves his topic!!

I could listen to Robert Garland all day!!!

The obvious love Professor Garland has for his subject really impacted me, can't wait to listen to another!

Best course I've heard!

I've listened to more courses than I can count from Great Courses, and thoroughly enjoyed almost all but this is the best one I've heard. Outstanding in every way. I love the content, the way it is presented, and the little bits of dry humor and personal antidotes. I now want to go find everything Professor Garland has done and immerse myself in it. Thank you very much for this!

Infectious enthusiasm

It makes such a difference when a lecturer has a passion for a particular topic, as Professor Garland clearly does when speaking about the lives of ordinary people. The course is well-organized, with clear themes which are repeated throughout the series.

Also, unlike certain other historians who have written about daily life in ages past, Garland spends a good deal of time talking about the lives of women as well as men. He's limited by the lack of source material in some cases, but he clearly worked hard to include women as much as possible, and I appreciate that.

Ancestry portrayed at its best

Prof. Garland is inspiring. What a dynamic way to hear and appreciate our story. I will listen to segments again with my grandchildren.

More than an amazing book, an experience

What an amazing experience I just lived!

Thanks to professor Garland, listening to his course made you travel through time and see the past from a very different point of view, the everyday point of view, the one you personnally use to see the world today. This made this audiobook more than a course, but a time-traveling experience. By hearing about the uses and habits of casual citizens of the past, it makes you appreciate what you have in the present, while wondering what will be in the future.

I cannot express how great the course was. Professor Garland’s performance was great on every level: enjoyable, tragic at time, funny at others, but always with respect for the people studied in his course. I rarely listened to such high quality Great Courses, and he deserves huge praises for his work.

Among the many, many choices on Audible, this one should be at the top.

Take a break from the headlines

A refreshing look at ordinary life going back a few thousand years. Was a nice break from the headlines of history

A different view of history

Well researched and presented. With respect for and some humor about #AncientSocieties, Dr. Garland brings to life the everyday experiences of #AncientPeople, families and cultures. As much #sociology as it is #history. #Witty and #Engaging narration by the professor who wrote the lectures. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Informative and Fun!

My favorite Great Course so far and I've listened to quite some already. Both in terms of the content and narration.