The Story of the Mediterranean World

Written by Joyce E. Salisbury, The Great Courses

Narrated by Joyce E. Salisbury

Length

13h 19m

For millennia, the Mediterranean Sea has been a global crossroads, carrying people, goods, ideas, beliefs, and conflicts across the waters. Great empires have fought to control it, great adventurers have made their fortunes on it, and great legends have been told about it. In the 24 immersive lectures of The Story of the Mediterranean World, Professor Salisbury takes you deeply into the history, the culture, and the breathtaking human drama of a unique and pivotal region of our planet, as you explore core moments such as: · Stone Age Origins. Explore the dramatic movement of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens as they transform the Mediterranean world. Admire their artistic and architectural achievements as they explore the spiritual world. · Glories of The Bronze Age. Trace the remarkable history of Bronze Age shipbuilding and maritime trade; and encounter the remarkable societies and achievements the Minoans and the Myceneans. · The Juggernaut of Rome. Witness how the Romans parlayed their brilliant military skill to dominate the entire Mediterranean Sea; and discover how they administered what became a vast and resplendent empire. · Muslim Conquests, Learning, and Trade. Witness the military campaigns that brought the eastern and southern Mediterranean under Muslim rule; and visualize the spectrum of Muslim trading, navigation, and naval warfare. · The Venetian and Ottoman Empires. Encounter the Venetians, whose navigational genius built a major maritime trading kingdom; and the Ottoman Empire, which ruled large tracts of Mediterranean lands from the 14th century to World War I. · The Age of Sail. Travel into the epoch of great sailing ships and track the evolution of fully rigged vessels, galleons for trade, and fully armed warships, as a range of European powers fought for political and trade supremacy in Mediterranean waters. · Colonialism and the World at War. In the modern era, mark the role of the Mediterranean in colonialism, as Britain, France, and Italy claimed lands within the region, and as a vital theater of conflict in both world wars. In The Great Courses’ The Story of the Mediterranean World, you’ll relive the fabulous history of a critical crossroads of human civilization. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.