Great Ancient Civilizations of Asia Minor

By: Kenneth W. Harl, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Kenneth W. Harl

Embark on an unforgettable trip into the historical glories of the past with these 24 lectures that immerse you in the history of an often overlooked region of the ancient world.

With Professor Harl as your guide, you'll plunge into the history of Asia Minor's great ancient civilizations and come face to face with eye-opening historical milestones. Among these: the rise of the Hittites, the legendary Trojan War, the birth of Western philosophy, the fiery Greek and Persian Wars, the victories of Alexander the Great, the dawn of the Hellenistic Age, the spread of early Christianity, the golden age of Byzantium, the birth of the Ottoman Empire, and much more.

Cultural change and continuity are the main themes of these lectures. You'll come to see how each successive civilization inherited and modified the political, social, religious, and economic institutions of its predecessor. In fact, the scope of Anatolian history can be best understood as a series of major cultural and religious rewrites: first by the Hittite emperors; then by the elites of Hellenic cities; next by their Hellenized descendants in the Roman age; then by Christian emperors and bishops in the Byzantine age; and, finally, by Turkish rulers and Muslim mystics.

To give you a stronger sense of that continuity (and the various changes that are a part of it), these lectures are organized into five cultural components: Early Anatolia (from 6000 to 500 B.C.), Hellenized Anatolia (from 750 to 31 B.C.), Roman Asia Minor (from 200 B.C. to 395 A.D.), Byzantium (from 395 to 1453), and Islamic Turkey (since 1071).

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

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

Another fantastic Course

Professor Harl does an excellent job in presenting this course. His enthusiasm on the subject matter just draws you in. Asia Minor has been both the home of some incredible civilizations and has been at the cross roads between East and West and between Europe and the levant. The Hittites, Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Turks, Mongols and Assyrians all vied for supremacy of this strategically located land. Fascinating course, highly recommended.

Fantastic and so easy to keep reading

Excellent survey of Anatolia and the Near East across a huge swath of history. Fast-moving, interesting, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Very well taught A++

Harl does a fabulous job conveying the subject matter and explaining the Asia Minor History. This is my third course of his and he is passionate about the material and that makes listening to him all the more exciting.

Kenneth Harl is the best

Cohesive narrative delivered in a non dramatic but still colorful performance by Harl. Every one of his great courses is worth the listeners time and attention

Professor Harl is Top Shelf

Any lecture you can listen to that involves Professor Harl is worth your time. The best there is.