Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
Prime membership required
Terms apply
Episodes
- S1 E1 - Uncovering Near Eastern CivilizationApril 26, 201829minAlthough Egypt, Greece, and Rome may be better known to the public, in fact more written evidence survives from Mesopotamia, home to many of the great powers of the ancient world. As you embark on a journey through over 3,000 years of history, you will understand the ways we uncover ancient historical knowledge, and learn why Mesopotamia's "rediscovery" is so valuable. #HistoryFree trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E2 - Natufian Villagers and Early SettlementsApril 26, 201828minThe spread of any technology tends to be slow. While today we may see the enormous value of plant and animal domestication, here you will discover the surprising theories about the transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture and the challenges that farming presented. Also, gain valuable perspective on the cultural sophistication of pre-agrarian peoples.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E3 - Neolithic Farming, Trading, and PotteryApril 26, 201827minThough travel was dangerous, people transported valuable goods, like obsidian for knife blades, across hundreds of miles, perhaps via chains of merchants. Plunge into everyday life in Neolithic Mesopotamia, where homes and villages reflect a simple, unstratified society, but evidence of intricate pottery shows that technology was advancing and people cared about aesthetics.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E4 - Eridu and Other Towns in the Ubaid PeriodApril 26, 201826minThe Ubaid people constructed the earliest monumental buildings, standardized some measurements, and must have had some sort of formal leadership to care for and control their populations. See how the people of the Ubaid coordinated their efforts to develop irrigation systems, despite a lack of written language.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E5 - Uruk, the World's Biggest CityApril 26, 201827minWitness the rise of urban civilization 5,500 years ago, a mere 200 generations before modern times. Discover how and why the first writing system developed and examine the earliest-known evidence of warfare.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E6 - Mesopotamia's First Kings and the MilitaryApril 26, 201827minWhy did people accept the rule of monarchs? This lecture reveals the fascinating world of the first kings, including their numerous important duties - from conducting diplomacy to levying taxes - and explores how they believed that the gods supported and chose them.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E7 - Early Dynastic Workers and WorshipersApril 26, 201828minIn a period where the causes of disease and natural disasters were not widely known, gods were believed to be the cause of, and the solution to, instability in life. Learn how evidence found in tombs suggests a belief in the afterlife, and discover just how large a workforce was employed by the grand temples where the gods were believed to live.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E8 - Lugalzagesi of Umma and Sargon of AkkadApril 26, 201829minMeet King Lugalzagesi, who controlled several city-states in southern Mesopotamia. His much more powerful successor, Sargon, had a mysterious origin, but was able to build an empire and expand trade over a wider region than ever before.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E9 - Akkadian Empire Arts and GodsApril 26, 201827minThe Akkadian Empire was a high point for artistic achievement in Mesopotamia. Depictions of humans were believed to possess some of the life force of the people they represented. Professor Podany shows how the many gods had differing roles and powers and were as much a part of everyday life as one's family. Examine an emotional hymn by a priestess, who is the world's first-known author.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E10 - The Fall of Akkad and Gudea of LagashApril 26, 201828minLearn some of the theories behind the fall of the Akkadian Empire. Major kings during this time run the gamut from Naram-Sin, one of the few Mesopotamian kings who claimed to be a god, to Gudea, a pious and benevolent king who may have served as a model for later leaders.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E11 - Ur III Households, Accounts, and ZigguratsApril 26, 201829minAlthough rulers during this period attempted to create a "cult of the kings," local leaders, merchants, and especially households performed essential roles in society. Cuneiform records reveal a remarkable level of organization, from taxes to diplomacy.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E12 - Migrants and Old Assyrian MerchantsApril 26, 201828minAn influx of immigrants greatly enriched the Mesopotamian region, and we see other issues that have echoes in today's world. This was a time of frequent warfare but also of increased literacy and private enterprise. Join merchants on their 800-mile caravans as they delivered tin and textiles in exchange for silver.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E13 - Royalty and Palace Intrigue at MariApril 26, 201829minHere you'll gain an intimate glimpse into the lives of royal families in the mid-second millennium BCE, from diplomatic marriages to extravagant gifts to family squabbles. Archival letters show us how royal women served as informants for their fathers, while sometimes dealing with abusive husbands.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E14 - War and Society in Hammurabi's TimeApril 26, 201830minMeet the mighty King Hammurabi, who ruled for an incredible 43 years. You'll also discover how the family can be viewed as a microcosm for Mesopotamian society, with each member playing an important role. Delve into the daily lives of families and the laws (both official and unspoken) governing their behavior.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E15 - Justice in the Old Babylonian PeriodApril 26, 201827minThe Babylonians had a sophisticated legal system that emphasized evidence and truthfulness. Two trials provide an insider's look into the workings of this system. Uncover what court records reveal about the types of crimes prosecuted, as well as the people's most pressing concerns regarding family and finance.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E16 - The Hana Kingdom and Clues to a Dark AgeApril 26, 201828minThe kingdom of Hana and an intriguing Kassite text provide clues to a mysterious dark age, which may have lasted for 100 years. Few records survive from this period, so Professor Podany illuminates historians' detective work to fill in the gaps.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E17 - Princess Tadu-Hepa, Diplomacy, and MarriageApril 26, 201828minDiscover how the kingdom of Mittani maintained a peaceful relationship with Egypt through the power of diplomacy. Letters between King Tushratta and the pharaoh demonstrate the roles of envoys in transporting letters and gifts over hundreds of miles, negotiating royal marriages, and defusing arguments.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E18 - Land Grants and Royal Favor in MittaniApril 26, 201828minIn a world before mass media, learn how Mittanian kings maintained visibility and control across vast distances and large populations without much need for force. Perhaps somewhat ironically, the story of a gold statue reveals the decline of Mittani's golden era.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E19 - The Late Bronze Age and the End of PeaceApril 26, 201830minThis dramatic installment details the end of a period of peace and stability between great powers, as a result of possible natural disasters, attacks on cities, and movements of the mysterious Sea Peoples. The era that followed was one of smaller kingdoms that left few written records.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E20 - Assyria AscendingApril 26, 201829minLearn about the grand state of Assyria with its huge palaces and iconic winged lion sculptures. The long and stable dynasty of Assyrian kings always longed to expand the boundaries of the empire, believing that their great god, Assur, had instructed them to do so. Their kings could be brutal in putting down rebellions, but they were also effective in administering the growing empire.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E21 - Ashurbanipal's Library and GilgameshApril 26, 201828minHere, discover the intellectual King Ashurbanipal whose library is one of the first in recorded history. In it, find clay tablets recording omens from the gods, as well as the world's oldest epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E22 - Neo-Assyrian Empire, Warfare, and CollapseApril 26, 201830minDiscover how the Assyrian empire was restructured by Tiglath-Pileser III, how the Assyrians struggled to keep Babylonia within their empire, and how they even attempted to conquer Egypt. Hear of the mysterious hanging gardens that sat magically on roofs. Bear witness to the fall of the Assyrian Empire at the hands of angry enemies, including the Babylonians.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E23 - Babylon and the New Year's FestivalApril 26, 201828minHear the glory of the Babylonian creation story involving Marduk and the evil goddess Tiamat. Through ancient records, relive the 12-day Akitu religious festival that involved priests, singers, artisans, musicians, and the king. You'll also explore the ritual humiliation of the king at the heart of the festival.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E24 - End of the Neo-Babylonian EmpireApril 26, 201832minFinally, arrive at the end of the independence of Mesopotamia with the conquest of the Neo-Babylonian empire by the forces of the powerful Persian king, Cyrus the Great. Witness religious changes that were taking place across the Near East. Mesopotamian culture gradually died out, but it left an incredible legacy.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
Details
More info
By clicking play, you agree to our Terms of Use.