"Great Battles of the Ancient World" Prof Garrett G. Fagan (24 Lectures / 30 Minutes Per Lecture /  4x DVD - The Great Courses)
Step onto the ancient battlefield and witness the high-stakes military clashes that decided the fate of empires and fundamentally forged the Western world! Professor Garrett G. Fagan delivers a gripping, high-energy reconstruction of the most iconic engagements of antiquity, from the desperate Greek stand against the Persians at Marathon to the tactical masterpiece of Hannibal at Cannae. This isn't just a list of dates; it’s an immersive deep dive into the evolution of total war, where you’ll analyze the revolutionary weaponry, brutal phalanx combat, and the sheer strategic genius required to command the legions of Rome and the hoplites of Greece in an era where the survival of entire civilizations hung in the balance!
 
The excitement deepens as the course deconstructs the "face of battle," revealing the harrowing reality of ancient combat and the profound social and political shifts triggered by these massive military triumphs. You will explore how the outcome of a single day at Zama or Gaugamela redrew the world map, catapulting obscure kingdoms into global superpowers and sending once-mighty dynasties into the dust of history. By synthesizing archaeological evidence with dramatic primary accounts, this curriculum captures the raw power and enduring legacy of ancient warfare, illustrating how these ancient warriors and their visionary commanders established the very foundations of military theory and political power that still resonate through the centuries!