TELEVISION

Decisive Battles of World History

Series: Great Courses
4.6
(74)
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Episodes
36
Rating
TVPG
Year
2014
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

Discover the military conflicts that have had the greatest impact in shifting the direction of historical events and shaping our world in The Decisive Battles of World History. Covering nearly 4,000 years, this course explores more than three dozen history-making military engagements, from the landmark battles of the Western world to their counterparts across Asia, India, and the Middle East.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 36

1. What Makes a Battle Decisive?

30m

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Contemplate the ways in which warfare can change the course of historical events. Examine the factors that make a military battle "decisive," such as its role in transfers of power and its social and political effects, and consider the study of battles as an analytical tool for understanding history.

2. 1274 B.C. Kadesh- Greatest Chariot Battle

30m

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The battle of Kadesh ushered in an unprecedented era of peace in the ancient Near East. Follow the strategy and tactics of the Egyptian and Hittite armies, featuring each side's distinctive war chariots. Trace the unusual sequence of battlefield events that led to a remarkable treaty, an important forerunner of peaceful diplomacy.

3. 479 B.C. Plataea-Greece Wins Freedom

30m

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In the 479 B.C. battle of Plataea, Greek "hoplite" forces fighting in phalanxes met the mighty army of the Persian superpower. Study the unfolding of this dramatic engagement, and learn how it ended the Persian threat to Greece and allowed for the flowering of Greece's cultural Golden Age.

Extended Details

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