War and World History

By: Jonathan P. Roth, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Jonathan P. Roth

Length: 25 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

This fresh and challenging inquiry into human societies takes a deep look at the effects and roles of war. As the most complex of all human endeavors, warfare - from ancient to modern - has spurred the growth of essential new technologies; demanded the adoption of complex economic systems; shaped the ideology and culture of nations; promoted developments in art and literature; and spread faith across the globe.

Over the course of 48 highly provocative lectures, Professor Roth explores armed conflict across five continents. Far from a traditional approach to military events, this panoramic series is not the history of battles or military campaigns, but the story of the intimate interconnections of war with human cultures and societies and how these connections have shaped history.

You'll study the complex effects of culture, economics, politics, and religion on war - and war's influences on them. In this context, you chart the colorful history of the practice and methodology of warfare. Among many other things, you'll learn about

• the development and evolution of history-making military weapons such as bows, horses, swords, and gunpowder;
• the interface of warfare with religion, which has bred some of the most unusual and poignant conflicts in history;
• the 17th-century European nation-state, where militaries were "nationalized" into central governments and military service was imbued with ideology of citizenship and loyalty to state;
• the crucial military underpinnings of nationalism, Communism, Fascism, and other political movements from the modern era.

Probe these pivotal and revealing features of history and deepen your understanding of our extraordinary, evolving world.

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

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses

great

a great trip culminating in the last half hour. The presenter identified key truths in the last lecture.

A Sweeping Panorama of War and History

As a student of world and military history, this outstanding series answered a lot of questions. Dr. Roth brings to light the not-so-obvious effect that war has on all of us: on our culture (men’s ties and jazz music), on our artifacts (jet travel and microwave ovens) and our psyche (the romanticization of war in the 19th century and its current rejection). I was very moved, especially by the last chapter, in which Dr. Roth reveals the brutal killing of his correspondent friend in Afghanistan and its effect on him: to study war in order to end it. God bless you Dr. Roth in your mission.

Fantastic overview of war

This is a remarkable survey of the development of warfare, it's influence on society (and vice versa), and technology This may seem like a daunting listen but Professor Roth makes it exciting, entertaining, and informative.

A must for Military History buffs

These lectures are a must for Military historians and amateur history buffs alike. From the prehistoric stone age to modern times Roth covers everything. I learned things that were surprising and informative and enjoyed every minute of it. Excellent lecture series

Magnificent in EVERY way

I cannot imagine why anyone would complain about his oral presentation!
I've been extending my education for almost 20 years by Great Course presentations, including Great Courses Plus. Thereby, I have learned very much about things intellectual in addition to my doctorate. Over time, I've added much to my fund of knowledge. I am so glad that Great Courses would present such an all encompassing course weaving together the history and culture of our very troubled world. I shall listen to major arts of it again. I get a great deal of satisfaction by experiencing a denouement, of sorts, that Great Courses has provided in preparing me for a course of this scope. May there be many more.

A lot of new information.

Despite an extensive background in military matters and history. I still learned a lot from this course.

Excellent overview

A lot of historians and social scientists mostly ignorant about how war. This series of lectures does a wonderful job in presenting the history of war and how war has interacted with economics and culture to form our modern world.

The Best Book I've Read on the History of Warfare

This is one of the best books I’ve read on the history and evolution of warfare, making a serious attempt to include the whole planet even as it focuses primarily on what Roth calls the “core” (which is mostly Europe and Asia and northern Africa). It starts in pre-history and ends in the present day, looking at how technology, the economy, society, ideology, religion, culture, and many other things have impacted the conduct of military action. It was absolutely fascinating. I will definitely read it again.

Wide breadth and original views

Outstanding lecture series with an original, informed, and logical take on the history of warfare

The best Teaching Company lecture!

What about Professor Jonathan P. Roth’s performance did you like?

I've listened to easily about 50 or so lecture series from The Teaching Company and Great Courses and so far this one is my favorite! I've listened to lectures which have covered some of the same topics that he covers, such as early human history, and yet he brings many new details to them that I had not heard elsewhere and is very good at making things interesting.

I would even recommend this to people who aren't as into military history as I am. I think many historians now downplay war as a factor in history to focus more on social change, but this is a mistake as looking at how war has evolved along with human civilization leads to some very fascinating insights on how both have evolved together. For instance, most historians tend to simply accept as a given that iron working was a revolutionary technology, but Roth actually goes into detail about the pros and cons of switching from bronze to iron and why some civilizations, such as the Egyptians, waited for hundreds of years to adopt it.