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War and World History

By: Jonathan P. Roth, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Jonathan P. Roth
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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

What listeners say about War and World History

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Great, nay, epic lecture!

This is one of the most interesting and engaging lectures I've listened to from this series. Such a passionate lecturer, articulate, knowledgeable and engaging. Very well thought out and presented perfectly.

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excellent wide ranging lecture series

very well put together series of lecturers. a critical examination of war as a cultural, social and economic phenomenon.

two small criticisms: it was a bit brief discussing the developments of the industrial revolution- we had a whole lecture discussing chariots and, later, the same amount of time discussing all the military innovations that occurred during the industrial revolution and probably missed a bit of detail. secondly, the lecturer often has an odd rising tone at the end of his sentences which got a bit annoying at times.

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Unexciting

Would you try another book written by The Great Courses or narrated by Professor Jonathan P. Roth?

Not a good performance, the narrator seemed lethargic, his accents troubled me at times. He seemed to be disinterested in the subject matter. The coverage was great, but the presentation could have been made more interesting.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from War and World History?

I would shorten the part on early history, most of which was mere speculation.

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