Brief, of course, is a relative term. Still, covering the history of the world in 18 hours is no mean feat (granted, Mel “It's good to be the king” Brooks tackled a fair chunk of it in 92 minutes with History of the World, Part 1, but he was being very selective). History professor Peter N. Stearns of George Mason University is the presenter for this fine 36-lecture survey from The Teaching Company's “Great Courses” series. Stearns begins by “defining the beast”—talking about the scope of world history and the various methodologies by which it's taught—before launching into the meat of the matter, divided into the following periods: classical (1000 BCE-500 CE), postclassical (500-1450), early modern (1450-1750), the long 19th century (1750-1914), and contemporary (1914-present). Viewers will learn about major civilizations, the ramifications of contact between various societies (and, conversely, the effects of isolationism), and the impact of a number of forces (such as the opening of new trade routes, the spread of disease, migration patterns, and missionary work) on the course of history. Stearns' synergistic approach, periodically illustrated with maps and other graphics, focuses far less on individuals than on the social, economic, political, cultural, industrial, and technological developments that have led to sweeping historical changes. A Brief History of the World is not a “West and the rest” course; in fact, the West doesn't much figure into the first third of the survey at all, and North America isn't a substantial presence until the final third. Today, the U.S. is a lightning rod for controversy on the world stage; given that fact, American students and citizens should be aware of the larger historical currents underlying contemporary events. A fine introduction (course books are separately available, featuring lecture outlines, transcripts, maps, a timeline, glossary, and bibliography), this is highly recommended for high school and academic libraries (to supplement their own regular or distance ed courses), as well as public libraries serving adult learners. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)
A Brief History of the World
(2007) 6 discs. 1,080 min. DVD: $149.95. The Teaching Company. PPR. ISBN: 1-59803-326-3. Volume 23, Issue 1
A Brief History of the World
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