Simply amazing

One of the most fascinating lecture series I have heard. of course it boils down to personal preference regarding history. If you love roman history however consider this course essential!

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fascinating, insightful and well read.

A very enjoyable listen that brings together two areas of history that are often looked at in isolation: Greece and Rome.
As well as the linkages it also brings out the similarities and differences between these two.

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A Garland guarantee

I already listened to Robert Garland's "The Greek World" and "Living History" and in every lesson he showcases his knowledge, his enthusiasm, his intellectual honesty, his passion. This is probably a crowning achievement, a fully parallel history of Greek and Roman civilizations along their many complex interactions, from Pyrrhus to Justinian throughout philosophy, medicine, architecture, politics, entertainment. Yes, it does help if you already have a background: if you are a novice you'll probably have to listen to these lessons a few times (and also with an encyclopedia and a historical atlas) but you won't regret them either way, I just find him very engaging and inspiring!

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Fantastic overview of Ancient Greece and Rome

I have enjoyed listening to several of The Great Courses, and particularly enjoy Professor Robert Garland's engaging way of teaching you about the ancient world. He has a way of making a long listen very enjoyable and amusing at times. I was drawn to this particular course as I have always read about Greece and Rome separately and this gave a wonderful overview and explained how they worked in synergy to create the world we know today. Of course they didn't always get along and both sides of their relationship with each other, and other nations, such as Persia and Egypt came to influence the modern day world. This course is not dry in any way, and instead gives a very real human perspective of the events, and normal day to day life, as it was known in the ancient world.

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3 people found this helpful

Classic Greece and Rome entangled and alive!

Prof. Garland gives us a comprehensive and anthusiastic view of the many eclectic topics from public to private life where Greek and Roman civilization overlapp, inclunding a thrilling account of the war between the two civilizations, where the Romans won in terms of imperial and military power but the Greeks won in terms of culture inclunding education, philosophy, science and religion. I've seen a recent similar debate between the former mayor of London and current British equivalent to foreign affairs minister, Boris Johnson, defending the ancient Greeks (strange for a politician who was the main responsible to cut off Britain from European civilization with Brexit) and the Cambridge classics professor, Mary Beard, defending Roman superiority, and despite the two being excellent communicators and a vibrant audience and moderator, I found that the clearly vibrant and enthused monologue from Prof. Garland about the pros and cons of each culture was even more vibrant and persuasive!

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4 people found this helpful

Learned so much!

As the lecturer states, often we learn of the Greeks or the Romans, it was fascinating to learn more about them side by side. Thoroughly recommend.

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An Unusual and Fascinating Perspective

This course was very interesting and informative, and also highly enjoyable. The lecturer has a very easy-to-follow, informal style while managing to impart both a lot of knowledge and also a real feeling for these ancient cultures. This course is told in a chronological order and the relevant historical framework is explained very well, but primarily it is about a comparison of Greek and Roman cultures, and the interactions between them. This makes it very unusual and by the end I felt that I understood the two cultures very much better and could view a variety of other material, both ancient history and contemporary culture, in better perspective. As for all Great Courses material, I recommend looking at the Great Courses web site for details on content and also additional reviews.I recommend this course highly.

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3 people found this helpful

An epic narrative expertly told

An excellent, insightful overview of the ebbs and flows of Graeco-Roman history and culture spanning more than 1,000 years.

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Fascinating history

I really enjoy Robert Garland’s course content and delivery. Full of detail and insights into how Greece and Rome became so intertwined. If you enjoy history of any era you’ll find this an enjoyable listen. I often listen repeatedly to fall asleep which is a big compliment!

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2 people found this helpful

The backdrop to Western Civilisation

I thought 39 lectures would be hard going but I was sad when it finished. Great insight and reference points for more detailed reading. Thoroughly recommended

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2 people found this helpful