The Greek World

A Study of History and Culture

By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Professor Robert Garland

Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

The ancient Greeks, more than any other early culture, have given us the template for Western civilization, as seen in their superlative achievements in the fields of architecture, political theory, philosophy, science, and art - not the least of which are their inventions of democracy and drama. In these 24 compelling lectures, Professor Garland guides you in a richly illuminating exploration of what the ancient Greeks have given us, and why they’re still important to us today.

The course delves into the origins of Greek civilization, the great Classical and Hellenistic periods, and takes you through the succeeding epochs of the Roman and Byzantine eras to the Renaissance, culminating with Greece’s dramatic modern history.

You’ll discover the elements of Greek culture that have so deeply imprinted the west in examples such as:

• The Phenomenon of Hellenism - Learn how Greek culture flowered during the Classical Age, then spread through Alexander’s conquests across the Mediterranean world;
• Athenian Democracy - Grasp the features of democracy as it arose in Athens in the 5th century B.C.E. as a bold political experiment;
• Religion and the Olympians - Explore the nature of Greek religious belief, and the panoply of gods and goddesses, from Zeus, Apollo, and Dionysus to Athena, Aphrodite, and Persephone;
• Greek Drama, Literature, and Philosophy - Study the plays of Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles, and Aristophanes; the essence of Homer’s great epic poems; and the seminal ideas of philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle;
• Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture - Survey the techniques and aesthetics of Greek sculpture; discover the superlative qualities of Greek vase painting; and study the elements of Greek architecture that have so deeply impacted Western architecture and art.

The Greek World: A Study of History and Culture offers you a multilevel immersion in Greek civilization, and an unforgettable view of the extraordinary power ancient Greece exerts over the Western imagination.

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

©2020 The Great Courses (P)2020 The Teaching Company, LLC

Megas Garland! Garland The Great

Outstanding course! Garland’s encyclopedic knowledge of the subject matter was only surpassed by his passion the material presented. Highly recommended.

Great course!

Professor Garland provides another great course on Antiquity, examining Ancient Greece in a thoughtful way, including its positives and negatives from our modern perspective.

Excellent

This is a very interesting history of the Greeks, using very broad brush strokes. The professor is brilliant and captivating. 5 stars!

A great intro or refresher for Ancient Greece

Narrator clearly is very passionate and knowledgable about Ancient Greece. This course has 24 lectures, each of which could be (and have been) entire books themselves. This course rarely goes into depth on any one subject, but for anyone who is interested in Ancient Greece or needs a refresher of the highlights (like myself), I would highly recommend it - I found the chapters on Greek drama and Greek language especially fascinating.

Loved it

Not a straightforward history; you can find that anywhere. This is a real look into Ancient Greece. Super informative and the narrator is very engaging and funny. You really feel like you’re sitting in his lecture hall.

Would that I could listen to Pr Garland every day

Absolutely wonderful course. Thank you professor for sharing your insights with us. These courses (and Pr Vandiver's) have been fascinating

A Wonderful Overview of the Subject

I have listened to a very large number of the great courses based on various histories. Professor Garland is by far my favorite lecturer. He has a very engaging personality and his presentation is top notch. I highly recommend his other courses as well.

Spectacular!

Professor Garland is an extraordinary teacher. Bravo! A thoroughly enjoyable course. My second experience with Professor Garland.

Solid and interesting

A solid great course. Each lecture is very interesting and takes a variety of perspectives to explore Greek life and impacts on today. There is no organizing theme or structure to the entire lecture however and each lecture is completely disconnected from those before and after. The speaker is passionate and keeps the listener engaged admitting his biases when necessary and challenging the reader's. A worthwhile listen for anyone wanting an intro to ancient Greek culture.

Top notch for Prof. Garland

The later lectures in the topics are a great way of putting Greek history and culture into context. I am biased because I like his other lectures, but this is one of the best.