History of Western Civilization Video Series
May 31, 2007 3:13 PM   Subscribe

The Western Tradition, an outstanding 52-part instructional video series about the history of western civilization, is available as free streaming video.
posted by Chinese Jet Pilot (13 comments total) 46 users marked this as a favorite
 
Thanks. This will make for some good evening tv viewing.
posted by wuwei at 3:15 PM on May 31, 2007


There are some other series also available in streaming video, including America's History in the Making, A Biography of America, Bridging World History and a whole lot more.
posted by LarryC at 3:25 PM on May 31, 2007


learner@mailinator.com
mrnobody
(@#+1.wmv)
posted by acro at 3:37 PM on May 31, 2007 [3 favorites]


Heh. We watched these in HS to prepare for AP european history. The guy's voice brings back fun memories.
posted by fillsthepews at 3:59 PM on May 31, 2007


Thanks CJP, and acro!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:45 PM on May 31, 2007


ONE -WOULD - LIKE - TO - THANK - YEW - FORR - THIS - INTERRESTING - POST.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:01 PM on May 31, 2007


Bridging World History is pretty good, they all are, but that one has some interesting perspectives, at least, for anyone who has never taken a World History class - "World History" being an approach to history, not a "history of the world".
posted by stbalbach at 6:09 PM on May 31, 2007


Thank you, Chinese Jet Pilot
posted by meh at 6:56 PM on May 31, 2007


Fabulous -- thanks!
posted by treepour at 8:30 PM on May 31, 2007




And let us also note his uncanny resemblance to comedic supertalent Harvey Korman.
posted by zorro astor at 9:48 PM on May 31, 2007


Holy cow. I had no idea Eugen Weber had passed. This makes me very sad.

"The Western Tradition" was a touchstone for me. History classes and books had always bored me to tears. Then I caught TWT on a local community college cable station. TWT ran every Sunday night at midnight, and I found Weber's style and voice hypnotic. He had a great feel for pricking little bubbles of conventional wisdom in interesting ways... It was the great Western Civ course I never saw in college. For years, I had a regular date with Eugen to end my weekends and broaden my horizons. I must have seen every episode four or five times.

The station eventually changed the scheduling and I was forced to buy the DVD. It's nice to own, but it's not the same as having a regular history date. I highly recommend episodes 44 through 48, from the rise of the nation-states to the end of WWII. Gripping stuff.

Dr. Weber ended the series with the lines below from Wordsworth. Appropriate on this day, I think:
Still glides the stream, and shall forever glide;
   The form remains, the function never dies;
   While we, the brave, the mighty, and the wise,
We men, who in our morn of youth defied
The elements, must vanish; -- be it so!
   Enough if something from our hands have power,
   To live, and act, and serve the future hour;
And if, as toward the silent tomb we go,
   Though love, though hope, and faith's transcendent dower,
We feel that we are greater than we know.
posted by bruceo at 1:54 AM on June 1, 2007


Thanks, one of my favorite shows growing up. Only recently have I started to watch it again. Now I don't have to wait until they come on tv. Woo!
posted by Meaney at 1:48 PM on June 1, 2007


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