Join storyteller and award-winning Professor J. Rufus Fears as he presents what he considers to be the 36 defining moments in our past with The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History. This course is an intriguing tour of history, from the creation of the Code of Hammurabi to the opening battles of the American Revolution to the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Using his impressive ability to draw lessons from the past, Professor Fears gives you new insights into familiar and unfamiliar events.
The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History
Get a comprehensive and riveting overview of defining moments that profoundly changed the world.
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Alan75 from
Disappointed
The completionist in me wouldn't allow me to quit once started, but it wasn't easy. The imagined conversations were unbearable and very cringy. Obvious biases displayed in nearly every lecture. The series had a very old fashioned feel to it (not always a bad thing, but in this case it was). Hopefully, Great Courses can find young professors with a more updated and modern approach.
Date published: 2024-10-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
George52 from
Sitting down with Grandpa
Get a warm blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, curl up by the fireplace, and hear Grandpa reminisce about the events of his life. That is how this course feels. Fun to listen to, I found myself looking forward to the next event, rather than counting how many I have to yet endure. Also enlightening to ponder where the world has gone since this series. Not encouraging. But worthwhile contemplating which current events we may be looking at in a series 50 years ahead.
Date published: 2024-03-08
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Bunnia from
The World Was Never The ame
Too much preaching and not enough facts, Quit after 3 lectures.
Date published: 2024-01-16
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Bernie K from
Good Course
For the most part this is a standup lecture with few props. Dr. J. Rufus Fears is interesting especially if you like history. He ties events together well.
Date published: 2023-10-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Dar1 from
History made fun
Reading the negative reviews on this lecture series, I am inspired to add my own two cents. If you are an individual that is uncomfortable in the presence of individuals with a strong code of morality and a belief in American exceptualism, then you need to avoid this course....indeed, any course....presented by Prof. Fears. As well, if your ideal of a good history course is one that buries you in factual minutia to the point of brain death, likewise you should avoid his courses. For my own part, I find myself for the very fist time actually bingewatching a lecture series. His story-telling approach to his material is entertaining as well as instructional, and often gives an entirely new perspective on the past. Yes, he paints with a broad brush. The student avid for historical minutiae need look elsewhere for his enlightenment. But, if you want your history class to be something you look forward to and (gasp) are not afraid of a presentation that might make you think for yourself, then I highly recommend all of Prof. Fear's courses.
Date published: 2023-06-06
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DartCol72 from
A+
Back in 1970, I had a history professor who was a lot like Prof. Fears. My grades in that other man’s classes were not what I could have wished, for he was mighty particular about what one wrote on the exams, but I learned more useful history from him than from any other prof, and to this day, I remember it all.
Prof. Fears’ lecture style is spellbinding, and whether you agree with him or not, you will never, never forget what he says.
Date published: 2023-04-28
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Colonel Bo from
Opinion
This gentleman begins with his understanding of history, “opinion “. If you are inclined to certain politics you’ll find this a great course. Many of his lectures are lacking in coherent context. Example “Charles Darwin’s ‘origins of the species’. Darwin’s book is about pigeons, not humans.
Date published: 2023-04-02
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Ferndale Alex from
Missing important world events
Some world changing events are missing compared to other included events which hardly mattered to the world. Example: why is the assassination of J F Kennedy (included) more important than Mongol Conquest (missing)? Example: why is the splitting of Roman Catholicism into East Roman Empire and West Roman Empire not included? In general most of included events are worth reading.
Date published: 2023-03-03
Overview
About
Dr. J. Rufus Fears was David Ross Boyd Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma, where he held the G. T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty. He also served as David and Ann Brown Distinguished Fellow of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Before joining the faculty at the University of Oklahoma, Professor Fears was Professor of History and Distinguished Faculty Research Lecturer at Indiana University, and Professor of Classical Studies at Boston University. An acclaimed teacher and scholar with more than 25 awards for teaching excellence, Professor Fears was chosen Professor of the Year on three occasions by students at the University of Oklahoma. His other accolades included the Medal for Excellence in College and University Teaching from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) Great Plains Region Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the UCEA's National Award for Teaching Excellence. Professor Fears's books and monographs include The Cult of Jupiter and Roman Imperial Ideology and The Theology of Victory at Rome. He edited a three-volume edition of Selected Writings of Lord Acton. His discussions of the Great Books have appeared in newspapers across the country and have aired on national television and radio programs. Professor Fears passed away in October 2012.
Trailer
01: Hammurabi Issues a Code of Law (1750 B.C.)
Begin your survey of 36 events and ideas that changed history by taking a close look at the creation of Hammurabi’s code of law. With its concepts of minimum wage, family law, and victims’ rights, the code provided many fundamental elements that can still be found in today’s legal systems.
32 min
02: Moses and Monotheism (1220 B.C.)
Monotheism is a predominant religious tradition throughout much of the world, and its emergence dates back to the era of Moses. Here, discover how the life of Moses—including such iconic events as the Exodus and the issuing of the Ten Commandments—set the stage for three great religions that continue to influence adherents worldwide.
30 min
03: The Enlightenment of the Buddha (526 B.C.)
Explore another fundamental religious event that forever changed the world: the development of Buddhism through the teachings of Siddartha Gautama. The messages of this world faith—including leaving behind all that makes you angry and treating everyone with kindness—have helped billions ponder the meaning of their lives.
30 min
04: Confucius Instructs a Nation (553 - 479 B.C.)
Confucius was an ancient Chinese scholar who lost his job for speaking the truth and thus shaped the history of one of today’s most important nations. In revealing how Confucius shaped the world through the Dao (or “Way”), Professor Fears shows why all civilizations are indebted to this thinker and his profound philosophy.
30 min
05: Solon - Democracy Begins (594 B.C.)
The democratic ideals that form the core of Western civilization wouldn’t exist without Solon, the ancient Greek ruler responsible for introducing the first truly balanced democracy to Athens. Learn how this system was structured, why troubling economic conditions made the city-state ripe for political reform, and more.
30 min
06: Marathon - Democracy Triumphant (490 B.C.)
After democracy was created, it had to be protected. And no battle was more important to defending democracy in its formative stages than the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. Relive the clash between Athens and the massive Persian Empire; a conflict that involved decisive leadership and surprise tactics.
29 min
07: Hippocrates Takes an Oath (430 B.C.)
Thousands of years after it was first spoken, the Hippocratic Oath is still revered by doctors around the world. Travel back to ancient Athens and investigate how Hippocrates revolutionized our understanding of medicine—just in time for the Great Plague of Athens, which devastated the city-state in 430 B.C.
30 min
08: Caesar Crosses the Rubicon (49 B.C.)
Why was Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon River in 49 B.C. such a momentous event in world history? What was the story behind this dramatic moment? And how did it bring about a political concept that would dominate Western civilization for the next 1,800 years? Find out in this fascinating lecture.
30 min
09: Jesus - The Trial of a Teacher (A.D. 36)
In A.D. 36, Jesus of Nazareth was put on trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate—and the verdict would forever alter the course of human civilization and spirituality. Follow the path of Christianity’s founder and examine why he was considered to be, at the time, such a revolutionary figure.
31 min
10: Constantine I Wins a Battle (A.D. 312)
Travel back to A.D. October 28, 312. Against a background of fierce Christian persecution, Constantine marches into Rome and becomes history’s first Christian emperor. In the process, this iconic—yet despotic—leader transformed his faith into a powerful religious force that would spread throughout Europe and the Near East.
30 min
11: Muhammad Moves to Medina - The Hegira (A.D. 622)
Islam is one of the world’s great monotheistic faiths, and in today’s world, is sometimes misunderstood. The spread of Islam around the world began in A.D. 622 with Muhammad’s flight into the city of Medina. This momentous date and its implications are the subject of this captivating lecture.
30 min
12: Bologna Gets a University (1088)
Before Cambridge and Oxford, there was the University of Bologna, founded in Italy in 1088. Here, Professor Fears details how Europe’s first academic institution emerged and, in doing so, reveals the origins of scholarly procedures and educational traditions that remain with us well into the 21st century.
31 min
13: Dante Sees Beatrice (1283)
Discover how Dante’s love for Beatrice—and the epic poem he would write to honor her—brought about the birth of the Renaissance. One of the most important works of literature ever written, The Divine Comedy focuses on the rebirth of the human spirit through the power of God’s love.
30 min
14: Black Death - Pandemics and History (1348)
Between 1347 and 1348, the Black Death killed 25 million people—nearly one-third of the population of Europe. Is it possible for tiny germs to transform the course of history? Or are humans above the ultimate destructive force of disease? Find out as you relive the traumatic story of this devastating event.
30 min
15: Columbus Finds a New World (1492)
Learn how Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the New World in October of 1492 set the stage for much of modern Western history. The story behind this iconic expedition—from the earliest attempts to gain political support to the last days of the explorer’s life—is one of high adventure.
31 min
16: Michelangelo Accepts a Commission (1508)
Just as important to history are beautiful events like the creation of artistic masterpieces. One of the most supreme of these: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Here, Professor Fears guides you through some of the work’s many powerful religious images, each of which illustrates the High Renaissance ideal of absolute beauty.
30 min
17: Erasmus - A Book Sets Europe Ablaze (1516)
Witness as Erasmus’s edition of the New Testament, which translated the Bible from Latin back into its original Greek, revolutionizes Christianity and paves the way for the Protestant Reformation. Along the way, learn what this work owes to the humanist ideology of the time and the invention of the printing press.
30 min
18: Luther’s New Course Changes History (1517)
One of the most defining moments in religious history was the Protestant Reformation. And it all started with the subject of this lecture: All Hallows Eve, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of Wittenberg University’s chapel and challenged Europe’s most powerful religious and political institutions.
30 min
19: The Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588)
One of the most decisive naval battles in human history, the defeat of the Spanish armada at the hands of the British navy, marked Britain’s transition from island nation into global empire. How did this epic clash come about? And what strategies did the British use to beat back the Spanish forces?
30 min
20: The Battle of Vienna (1683)
Using his expert storytelling abilities, Professor Fears recreates the 1683 Battle of Vienna—a defining moment in the struggle between the values of the Middle East and the values of the West. This battle between the Ottoman and Holy Roman empires would also create geopolitical tensions that remain even today.
30 min
21: The Battle of Lexington (1775)
The United States of America, the first modern nation founded on moral principles, wouldn’t exist without the battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Explore the moment that sparked the birth of our country, and learn how it led to a declaration of independence and a full-blown revolution against Great Britain.
30 min
22: General Pickett Leads a Charge (1863)
Had the Confederacy won the Civil War, the history of the United States would have been vastly different. And the reason for the Confederacy’s ultimate decline and defeat was the iconic Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863—the subject of this dynamic lecture on a pivotal moment in American history.
30 min
23: Adam Smith (1776) versus Karl Marx (1867)
Separated by almost a century, Adam Smith and Karl Marx could not have been more different in their economic views. And yet, as you discover, their respective works—Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and Marx’s Das Kapital—established two conflicting views of capitalism that are still with us today.
31 min
24: Charles Darwin Takes an Ocean Voyage (1831)
Encounter another book that shook the foundations of history: Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. The product of an ocean voyage in 1831, the work described the theory of evolution by natural selection, an idea that would revolutionize not only the science and culture of Darwin’s time, but of the 20th century as well.
31 min
25: Louis Pasteur Cures a Child (1885)
In this lecture, Professor Fears explains why Louis Pasteur’s germ theory of disease changed history and, with it, the life of every man, woman, and child on the planet. It’s an engaging medical story that transformed rabies, anthrax, cholera, and more from immediate death sentences into conquerable illnesses.
31 min
26: Two Brothers Take a Flight (1903)
Humanity’s conquest of the air began with a single flight taken by two brothers from Ohio. Discover the story behind the Wright brothers’ 1903 first flight at Kitty Hawk, an unprecedented event that would have enormous implications for the future of commercial travel, warfare, and space flight.
30 min
27: The Archduke Makes a State Visit (1914)
With the 1914 assassination of Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the stage was set for World War I and for the turmoil that would last most of the 20th century. Travel back to Sarajevo as political terrorists commit one of the most shocking murders in modern history.
30 min
28: One Night in Petrograd (1917)
November, 1917: The Bolsheviks seized power from the broken Russian Empire. What emerged was the Soviet Union, which would become one of the most powerful geopolitical forces of the 20th century. Unearth the roots of Communist Russia and the revolutionary moment that turned the dream of a Communist state into a bitter reality.
30 min
29: The Day the Stock Market Crashed (1929)
It was a devastating economic event that shattered the lives of millions and created a tidal wave of effects around the world. Here, experience the stock market crash of October 29, 1929, from the personal perspective of an everyday American family; also, learn how it set the stage for events covered in subsequent lectures.
30 min
30: Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany (1933)
Professor Fears’s theme in this lecture is Adolph Hitler’s inauguration as chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. Once in power, this political leader would unleash both World War II and the Holocaust. So how—and why—did history’s greatest monster gain such a strong hold over the German people?
30 min
31: Franklin Roosevelt Becomes President (1933)
The very same year Hitler became chancellor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became president of the United States. Focusing on the honest and inspiring inauguration speech delivered on March 4, learn how Roosevelt instilled hope in a disillusioned and wounded nation, as well as prepared it to face the tough times ahead.
30 min
32: The Atomic Bomb Is Dropped (1945)
Visit the birth of the Atomic Age with the explosion of the first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. It was a terrifying moment in world history that had an untold impact on the future of warfare, science, and geopolitics.
30 min
33: Mao Zedong Begins His Long March (1934)
No one in 1900 would have predicted that, a century later, China would become one of the world’s superpowers. And it all started in 1934 with the rise of Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party—whose authoritarian rule is the heart of this intriguing lecture.
30 min
34: John F. Kennedy Is Assassinated (1963)
Why, and how, did the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, change the course of history? Find out the answer by exploring this iconic leader’s rise to political success, his handling of important international crises—and the tragic day that signaled an end to America’s innocence.
30 min
35: Dr. King Leads a March (1963)
Along with the Gettysburg Address and the inaugural addresses of Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Professor Fears retells the life of the civil rights leader behind this landmark moment, along with the ways he sought to heal a racially divided nation.
30 min
36: September 11, 2001
Conclude the course with a pointed examination of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the new world they created. Afterward, meditate on the lessons learned from the past 35 lectures and come to realize one of the most fundamental lessons of history.
32 min
