The Big History of Civilizations
Where to Watch The Big History of Civilizations
36.
Civilizations of the Distant Future
2016-12-09
We can envision scenarios for the year 2100, but what about 2600? Or 3100? Reflect on the possibilities, drawing from the imaginative work of futurists and science fiction writers. See where human civilization might go - and what might happen to us along the way - on this planet, or in the universe, as Homo sapiens, or even as some future species.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 36 Now
35.
Civilization, the Biosphere, and Tomorrow
2016-12-09
Historians traditionally focus solely on the past, but here you have the chance to apply what you've learned about Big History to see what might be in store for us in the near future. Will we run out of oil?
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 35 Now
34.
The Transformative 20th and 21st Centuries
2016-12-09
Welcome to the Anthropocene! The 20th and 21st centuries are merely an eye blink on the scale of Big History, yet these years have wrought astonishing changes in the history of human civilization - and the story of our planet as a whole.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 34 Now
33.
The Industrial Revolution and Modernity
2016-12-09
Zoom in on an obscure corner of Europe in the 18th century, where the burning of coal served as the necessary spark to launch the world into modernity. Find out why Britain was in such a good position to become a global powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution, and watch as the railroads altered the landscape of countries around the world.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 33 Now
32.
The Advent of Global Commerce
2016-12-09
In this lecture, Professor Benjamin surveys the "Malthusian Cycle" of expansion from 500 to 1750 C.E.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 32 Now
31.
Lifeways of Australia and the Pacific
2016-12-09
The Pacific islands represent perhaps the last great chapter in humanity's colonization of the globe. The vast Pacific made migration slow until comparatively recently, yet seafaring technologies allowed many Polynesian societies to flourish.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 31 Now
30.
African Kingdoms and Trade
2016-12-09
Sub-Saharan Africa has often been overlooked by outside historians who are considering the rise of human civilization, yet nations such as Mali and Ghana and the Bantu and Swahili civilizations all have a rich and fascinating history. Survey the story of Africa with a special focus on sub-Saharan geography, people, and civilizations.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 30 Now
29.
Culture and Empire in South America
2016-12-09
Round out your study of the Americas with a journey down the Andean spine and up the Amazon River to discover the many civilizations of South America, including the Nazcans, the Mochicans, and the Incas. Tour archaeological sites, and then step back to consider the Big History of the Americas compared to Afro-Eurasia.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 29 Now
28.
Agrarian Civilizations of Mesoamerica
2016-12-09
The unique geography of Mesoamerica - the long isthmus that runs from the present-day Panama Canal through Mexico - has driven the region's history over the millennia. Review the geologic formations and plate tectonics that created Mesoamerica, and then turn to its many cultures, including the Olmecs, the Mayans, and the Aztecs.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 28 Now
27.
North American Peoples and Tribes
2016-12-09
Shift your attention to the Americas, which developed on an alternate path from Afro-Eurasia. This first lecture traces the settlement of North America and investigates societies across different regions, from the southwestern deserts to the eastern woodlands.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 27 Now
26.
Legacy of the Mongols
2016-12-09
In the early 13th century, Mongol horsemen swept out of their homeland in the steppes to conquer the known world, and they would go on to create the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen. Enter Mongol culture and look at the violent conquests that led to a little-known Pax Mongolia before the Mongols returned to obscurity.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 26 Now
25.
Islamic Expansion and Rule
2016-12-09
The expansion of the Islamic civilization between the 8th and 10th centuries played a major role in the history of Afro-Eurasian states and cultures. Survey the story of Islam from the life of Mohammed to the Sunni-Shia split to the Islamic Golden Age.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 25 Now
24.
Chaos and Consolidation in Eurasia
2016-12-09
Between the 3rd and 6th centuries, Afro-Eurasian civilization experienced a crisis with the collapse of the Han Dynasty in the east and the end of Roman administration in the west, leading to near-universal economic contraction. Employ Big History analysis to understand the different outcomes to these events - and their influence on future history.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 24 Now
23.
New Ideas along the Silk Road
2016-12-09
The Era of Agrarian Civilizations was one of fluid borders and nomadic activity, which eventually led to dynamic trade routes between east and west. Here, Professor Benjamin transports you into the Han Dynasty's world of luxurious silks and spices.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 23 Now
22.
Triumphs and Flaws of Imperial Rome
2016-12-09
Pick up the story of Rome in the Augustan Golden Age and follow it through the infamous sack by the Visigoths. Explore the literature and propaganda of the empire, and examine the reign of some of Rome's most notorious rulers before concluding with a look at the emergence of Christianity.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 22 Now
21.
Building the Roman Republic
2016-12-09
Rome began as an unremarkable city-state with a monarchy, but once the city established itself as a republic, Roman conquests spread dramatically across the Mediterranean. Here, review some of Rome's great leaders from its beginning through the assassination of Julius Caesar and the reign of Octavian, Caesar Augustus.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 21 Now
20.
Alexander's Conquests and Hellenism
2016-12-09
Although Big History looks at the macro lens, sometimes one individual truly shapes the course of human history. Alexander of Macedon is one of those people.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 20 Now
19.
Greek Gods, Philosophy, and Science
2016-12-09
The Greeks created one of the richest and most influential cultures in human history. From myths to music to philosophy, as you delve into this world, you'll explore the major Greek thinkers and the big questions they tackled - and gain a new understanding not just of their world, but also to better understand humanity today.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 19 Now
18.
Greece in Its Golden Age
2016-12-09
Geography plays one of the most important roles in a civilization's development, and this holds true for the ancient Greeks. But it is the Greek experiments in government that drove much of their success.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 18 Now
17.
Oxus Civilization and Powerful Persia
2016-12-09
Pastoral nomads weren't the only early settlers of Central Asia. The recently discovered Oxus civilization and the Persians reveal a number of key themes for Big History, including the role of climate and geography, intensified social complexity, innovations in warfare and farming, and more.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 17 Now
16.
The Importance of the Nomads
2016-12-09
Go inside the steppe environment to learn about the role militarized pastoral nomads played in world history. As you see how these societies responded to climate pressures and influenced neighboring civilizations, you will also chart the rise of the horse, which played an important role in nomadic society.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 16 Now
15.
China's Dynasties and Influence
2016-12-09
In this second lecture on early East Asian civilization, follow the history from the Warring States Period through the Qin and Han dynasties. Along the way, examine many of Chinese culture's most important contributions to world history, including its legal codes, and the invention of paper and printing.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 15 Now
14.
China: Born in Isolation
2016-12-09
Although contemporaneous with civilizations emerging in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and South Asia, East Asia's geographic isolation allowed for the development of unique ideas about government, society, and the individual. Find out about East Asian culture by exploring the rise and fall of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 14 Now
13.
South Asian Civilizations and Beliefs
2016-12-09
Continue your study of South Asia. Here, Professor Benjamin traces the rise of Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religious traditions during the millennium between 1500 and 500 B.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 13 Now
12.
Mysteries of the Indus Valley
2016-12-09
While agrarian civilizations were flourishing in Egypt and the Mediterranean, the extraordinary Indus civilization was emerging in South Asia. Witness the development of one of the most advanced and intriguing civilizations of its time, and then tour two of its most important cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 12 Now
11.
Early Mediterranean Civilizations
2016-12-09
The Mediterranean Sea played a key role in the development of the ancient world. Here, explore four smaller cultures that had an enormous influence on subsequent history, particularly trade and cultural exchange: the Phoenicians, the Hebrews, the Minoans, and the Mycenaeans.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 11 Now
10.
Society and Culture of Egypt
2016-12-09
Shift your attention from Ancient Egyptian power to the society's fascinating social, economic, and cultural achievements. Investigate Egyptian urban life, its system of trade, hieroglyphics, and religion.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 10 Now
9.
Egypt: Divine Rule in the Black Land
2016-12-09
Dive into the world of Ancient Egypt during the time of the great pharaohs. In this sweeping lecture, Professor Benjamin shows you how environmental circumstances led to Egyptian power.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 9 Now
8.
The Downfall of Sumer
2016-12-09
Wars and rumors of war abound in this next lecture on Mesopotamia. Survey the rise and fall of empires in the 1,000 years after the collapse of the Sumerians.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 8 Now
7.
Innovations of Mesopotamia
2016-12-09
Gain new insights into civilization by looking at one of the first: the Sumerians of Mesopotamia. Here, use techniques from linguistics, genetics, archeology, climatology, and more to see how this society unfolded - and what lessons it has to offer us today.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 7 Now
6.
The Era of Agrarian Civilizations
2016-12-09
The vast Era of Agrarian Civilizations stretches nearly 5,000 years, from 3,200 B.C.E. to 1750 C.E. and the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Tease out the large-scale trends and patterns of this period to find out what led to the growth of agrarian civilizations as well as the key barriers these civilizations faced.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 6 Now
5.
Power, Cities, and States
2016-12-09
After the agricultural revolution, the next major transition in human history was the rise of cities. After introducing you to life in the early farm communities, Professor Benjamin investigates the origins of power and its relationship to the state.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 5 Now
4.
Origins of Agriculture
2016-12-09
Archaeologists continue to debate precisely why and how humanity transitioned from foraging to agriculture 10,000 years ago. Delve into the agricultural revolution to find out how some combination of climate change, population growth, and human ingenuity led to one of the most important revolutions in human history.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 4 Now
3.
Foraging in the Old Stone Age
2016-12-09
Although it is often skimmed over in the history books, the Paleolithic Era is the longest time in human history, ranging from 200,000 to 11,000 years ago. Understanding this period is crucial for understanding the human history that follows.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 3 Now
2.
The Rise of Humanity
2016-12-09
Trace the origins of the human species from the emergence of proto-humans 2.5 million years ago to the rise of Homo sapiens from about 200,000 years ago.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 2 Now
1.
A Tale of Two Ancient Cities
2016-12-09
Jericho and Anau are two of the world's oldest cities, and their stories have much to tell us about the scope of human history. Begin the course by examining what made these cities successful, and how they differed from each other.
Watch The Big History of Civilizations Season 1 Episode 1 Now
The Big History of Civilizations is a series categorized as a new series. Spanning 1 seasons with a total of 36 episodes, the show debuted on 2016. The series has earned a no reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at undefined.
How to Watch The Big History of Civilizations
How can I watch The Big History of Civilizations online? The Big History of Civilizations is available on The Great Courses Signature Collection with seasons and full episodes. You can also watch The Big History of Civilizations on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV Channels, Amazon online.
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The Great Courses Signature Collection
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Craig G. Benjamin
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