Why do the ancient Greeks occupy such a prominent place in conceptions of Western culture and identity? Covering the eleven centuries from the end of the Neolithic period to the rise of Alexander the Great, this course traces the history of Classical Greece and its foundational influence on all of Western civilization. The knowledge gained here will increase comprehension not only of history but of all Western religion, art, architecture, philosophy,...

In recent decades, the philosophy of humor has been recognized as a legitimate subfield of philosophy. The reason for this? Because to understand how humor works is to better understand the nature of human experience. In these 24 insightful, informative, illuminating, and (yes) humorous lectures, explore the philosophical theories and explanations of humor, from blatantly obvious puns to complex narratives to sly twists of language. Rooted in analytic...

Parents can't make friends for their children, nor can they prevent them from ever feeling upset. But with the right guidance, they can support them in learning how to solve problems, cope with feelings, and build satisfying relationships. Gain a deeper understanding of the child's development and ways to address stumbling blocks with compassion.

In the twelve lessons of this guide, Dr. Bamforth and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, one of the pioneering companies of the craft beer movement in the United States, take viewers on a journey through the history of this surprisingly complex beverage. Learn how popular styles like pilsners, IPAs, and stouts were originally developed and how daring new types of beer continue to push the envelope on what a beer is and isn't.

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach fuses emotional power, religious devotion, technical virtuosity, diverse national styles, and sheer genius in ways that are unforgettable, delightful, and moving. Professor Robert Greenberg explains all this and more with compelling insight, deep human sympathy, and puckish wit. Join him and learn to hear Bach with more pleasure and understanding than ever before.

This course examines how philosophy and religion have interacted throughout history on fundamental questions of religious belief, including the concepts of God, creation, sin, mercy, and redemption. Invoking the writing of the greatest Greek, Jewish, and Christian thinkers as well as "modern" philosophers such as Hume, Kant, Schleiermacher, and Nietzsche, this course casts new light on the entire Greco-Judeo-Christian belief system of the Western...

Taught by the highly experienced safari guide James Currie, these 24 exciting lectures take viewers onto the plains and into the jungles of Africa. From UNESCO World Heritage sites to stunning bird sanctuaries, and from national parks to hidden-gem wilderness areas, experienced travelers and armchair enthusiasts alike will enjoy this exhilarating tour of Africa.

Using a distinctly European perspective (in which the United States is a supporting player instead of a main character), this course provides a fresh lens through which to study the European Theater?s major battles, larger-than-life personalities, twists of fate, and tales of intrigue.

Explore the life and times of the man whose name is synonymous with inventiveness, curiosity, and creative genius. In this course, taught by art historian and Professor George R. Bent, take an engrossing look at this grandmaster, the intriguing world he inhabited and shaped, and the legacies he left behind. These visually rich 36 lectures will give fresh insights into Leonardo's iconic paintings, his important anatomical studies, and his astonishingly...

This course addresses three broad chronological spans. The first third of the course covers the nomadic steppe peoples from antiquity to 550 A.D., from their domestication of the horse through their interactions with the civilizations of China, the Near East, the Greeks, and Imperial Rome. The second third of the course deals with the early Middle Ages, a period of time that was dominated by the spread of the Turkish language across the steppe zones....