The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History

De: J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses

Narrado por: J. Rufus Fears

History is made and defined by landmark events - moments that irrevocably changed the course of human civilization. They have given us

• spiritual and political ideas;
• catastrophic battles and wars;
• scientific and technological advances;
• world leaders both influential and monstrous; and
• cultural works of unparalleled beauty.

Now a series of 36 captivating lectures explores some of the most important and definitive events in the history of the world - events after which our world would never be the same.

Taught by a remarkably gifted teacher with more than 25 teaching awards to his credit, these lectures form an intriguing and engaging tour of thousands of years of human history, from the creation of the Code of Hammurabi to the Battle of Lexington to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and beyond. It's a chance for you to gain new insights about world history from a truly riveting historian.

Using his expert knowledge and impressive ability to draw out invaluable lessons from the past, Professor Fears has chosen the events he discusses based on three criteria: how the event in itself fundamentally changed history, how the aftermath of the event changed history, and how the event and its impact still resonate with us today.

The result is a comprehensive and authoritative selection of subjects, each of which played a crucial role in transforming human civilization. Whether the event is an obvious or not-so-obvious choice, Professor Fears takes great care to tie each to the 21st century, pointing out just how influential these and other moments were in shaping who we are and how we live.

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

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

Not for well-read history buff

Would you try another book from The Great Courses and/or Professor J. Rufus Fears?

This would not be a bad series for a person who thinks they might like history and the subject of events that changed history, but if you are a fairly well-read history buff, you will already know most of the events and details provided.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Perhaps found less known events that made a difference or else, provided unknown details or connections in the ones provided.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

About average for a lecturer. I don't expect class lecturers to be greatly dynamic. It is nice if they are, but as long as I can understand them and they provide good information, I don't care.

J. Rufus Fears, a Genius in our time.

You can tell from all of Professor Fear’s accolades right at the beginning of this audiobooks that he is a genius and a great professor. That becomes evident the second his first lecture begins.

There’s a reason that Professor Fears is one of the most loved professors hired by the Teaching Company. 10/10

Very interesting

This is a very poignant and relevant lecture series. The professor is clearly knowlegeable and understandable. The context of each event is explained in relation to the history of humanity. I highly recommend this course.

Excellent Read

For those that are students of history this book is an excellent and enjoyable read.

Short form world history done pretty well

The selection of items was interesting and much energy in the presentation. It is good. I have it good instead of excellent because of the particular style of the presenter which is good but to my taste not excellent. Still much one can learn here.

Rufus J Fears is a Force

Any one of the great courses that is taught by Rufus J Fears is worth listening too. He is one of the most talented instructors I have ever listen to. He passed away a few years ago, so these classes archive the work of a genius.

Too much dramatic reading

The author praised traitors, stated conversations and opinions he could not know, and was overly dramatic to the detriment of the history he was conveying.

Beautiful Lecture Series by The Great Dr. Fears

First, I came to The Teaching Company after discovering Dr. Fears's course Books That Will Change Your Life. Today, I own every course he's taught. If you are not already a fan or prior student of Dr. Fears you may start with BTWCYL or his Famous Romans and Greeks. Dr. Fears lectures in an engaging storytelling style. He follows the model of Plutarch's great lives as he shares biographies and anecdotes. Listeners will easily retain the complicated information the professor shares because of his genius for storytelling.

In this course of 36 lectures, begins in the ancient world and covers the beginnings of law, government & God in the East and West. Dr. Fears builds up to a finale of present day challenges and he leaves us, as always, with a grand and optimistic vision for the future. Throughout the lectures, one gains greater historical knowledge and the capacity to see history in context. Over time, listeners will learn to apply historical knowledge to the present day.

I love everything about Dr. Fears and regret that he died before I had an opportunity to meet and thank him. His lectures not only awakened a love of history but it gave me the desire to be a better person.

Mix of fact, fiction and opinion.

He is a great storyteller. The problem is that quite a bit of the embellishments contain conjecture or flat out false information. Here a a few examples:

Every Bone in Christ's body was broken. : False, if he would have done his research and read the gospels he would know that according to the bible not a single bone was broken.

At the time of Constantine non-converts were put to death. This is unsubstantiated and false.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella thought the earth was flat because the bible says so. This statement is ridiculously false on so many levels.

On Martin Luther he tends to preach and gives false information about what the Catholic Church actually taught.

I could go on and on.

He definitely has a protestant bias. Reminds me of the history taught in Public Schools back in the day.

It is mainly Western history. There are much better Western History Great Courses. I can't really recommend this course to someone who does not already have an idea of Western History because they will come away with too much misinformation. I would recommend starting with "Foundations of Western Civilization" parts one and two. As for the reformation I recommend "The History of Christianity in the Reformation Era"

Prone to Hyperbole

Lots of interesting events, but there are a decent number of things he says that aren't accurate (per more in-depth Great Courses on each topic).