History of Western Civilization Video Series

May 31, 2007 3:13 PM

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)

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

[e-mail]
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

Was there no FPP on Professor Weber's recent passing?
posted by zorro astor at 9:46 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

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