Get a free audiobook
-
The History of Ancient Egypt
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Series: The Great Courses: Ancient History
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Categories: History, Ancient History
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
Fascinating!
- By Jesslovescoffee on 2018-11-23
-
The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These 36 lectures tell the remarkable story of a tumultuous thousand-year period in the history of England. Dominated by war, conquest, and the struggle to balance the stability brought by royal power with the rights of the governed, it was a period that put into place the foundation of much of the world we know today. As you journey through this largely chronological narrative you'll see key themes emerge, including the assimilation of successive waves of invaders, the tense relationship between kings and the nobility, and the constant battles over money and taxation.
-
-
Professor has a great speaking voice and style.
- By Amazon Customer on 2017-10-05
-
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- Written by: Jack Weatherford
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.
-
-
Terrible start.
- By William H. on 2019-11-02
-
History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective
- Written by: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient world has cast a long shadow, influencing our customs and religious beliefs, our laws, and the form of our governments. It has taught us when and how we make war or pursue peace. It has shaped the buildings we live and work in and the art we hang on our walls. It has given us the calendar that organizes our year and has left its mark on the games we play.
-
-
More of a European perspective.
- By Han on 2018-07-31
-
1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
-
-
history learned
- By PaladinPhil on 2018-07-25
-
The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality
- Written by: Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Don Lincoln
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the end of his career, Albert Einstein was pursuing a dream far more ambitious than the theory of relativity. He was trying to find an equation that explained all physical reality - a theory of everything. Experimental physicist and award-winning educator Dr. Don Lincoln takes you on this exciting journey in The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality. Suitable for the intellectually curious at all levels and assuming no background beyond basic high-school math, these 24 half-hour lectures cover recent developments at the forefront of particle physics and cosmology.
-
-
Needs to be re-recorded
- By WTL on 2019-09-17
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
Fascinating!
- By Jesslovescoffee on 2018-11-23
-
The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These 36 lectures tell the remarkable story of a tumultuous thousand-year period in the history of England. Dominated by war, conquest, and the struggle to balance the stability brought by royal power with the rights of the governed, it was a period that put into place the foundation of much of the world we know today. As you journey through this largely chronological narrative you'll see key themes emerge, including the assimilation of successive waves of invaders, the tense relationship between kings and the nobility, and the constant battles over money and taxation.
-
-
Professor has a great speaking voice and style.
- By Amazon Customer on 2017-10-05
-
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- Written by: Jack Weatherford
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.
-
-
Terrible start.
- By William H. on 2019-11-02
-
History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective
- Written by: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient world has cast a long shadow, influencing our customs and religious beliefs, our laws, and the form of our governments. It has taught us when and how we make war or pursue peace. It has shaped the buildings we live and work in and the art we hang on our walls. It has given us the calendar that organizes our year and has left its mark on the games we play.
-
-
More of a European perspective.
- By Han on 2018-07-31
-
1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
-
-
history learned
- By PaladinPhil on 2018-07-25
-
The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality
- Written by: Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Don Lincoln
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the end of his career, Albert Einstein was pursuing a dream far more ambitious than the theory of relativity. He was trying to find an equation that explained all physical reality - a theory of everything. Experimental physicist and award-winning educator Dr. Don Lincoln takes you on this exciting journey in The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality. Suitable for the intellectually curious at all levels and assuming no background beyond basic high-school math, these 24 half-hour lectures cover recent developments at the forefront of particle physics and cosmology.
-
-
Needs to be re-recorded
- By WTL on 2019-09-17
-
The Foundations of Western Civilization
- Written by: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
-
-
very protestant and narrow
- By Carole Oleniuk on 2018-12-12
-
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
- Written by: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Military history often highlights successes and suggests a sense of inevitability about victory, but there is so much that can be gleaned from considering failures. Study these crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took - or didn't take - a particular path.
-
-
Fantastic book, great narration
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-12-20
-
The Peloponnesian War
- Written by: Kenneth W. Harl, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth W. Harl
- Length: 18 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Peloponnesian War pitted Athens and its allies against a league of city-states headed by Sparta. The ancient Greek historian Thucydides captured this drama with matchless insight in his classic eyewitness account of what was arguably the greatest war in the history of the world up to that time. These 36 half-hour lectures draw on Thucydides' classic account as well as other ancient sources to give you a full picture of the Greek world in uneasy peace and then all-out war in the late 5th century B.C.
-
-
A well structured and insightful course.
- By Chris Driscoll on 2018-09-14
-
Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- Written by: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
-
-
Great book worth a listen but maybe I'm bias.
- By Martin on 2018-01-15
-
The Selfish Gene
- Written by: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
-
-
Life changing book
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-07-25
-
Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Wolfson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
-
-
I enjoyed it. Educational.
- By ron on 2019-03-16
-
Black Holes, Tides, and Curved Spacetime
- Written by: Benjamin Schumacher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Benjamin Schumacher
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gravity controls everything from the falling of an apple to the rising of ocean’s tides to the motions of the heavens above. If you’ve ever wondered how this most puzzling force works across our entire universe, you will be delighted by this 24-part course that is accessible to any curious person, regardless of your science education. No other product on the market presents the subject of gravity in as much detail as this course, which will follow the past 400 years of research and experimentation in the field.
-
The Storm Before the Storm
- The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic
- Written by: Mike Duncan
- Narrated by: Mike Duncan
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. After its founding in 509 BCE, the Romans refused to allow a single leader to seize control of the state and grab absolute power. The Roman commitment to cooperative government and peaceful transfers of power was unmatched in the history of the ancient world. But by the year 133 BCE, the republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled.
-
-
Brilliant, especially for beginners like myself
- By Stefan J. Knibbe on 2018-02-13
-
Cosmos
- A Personal Voyage
- Written by: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space.
-
-
LeVar is like listening to a breathy James T. Kirk
- By Robert on 2018-04-04
-
Heroes
- The Greek Myths Reimagined
- Written by: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 15 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the newest installment of the best-selling series Mythos, legendary author and actor Stephen Fry moves from the exploits of the Olympian gods to the deeds of mortal heroes. Perseus. Jason. Atalanta. Theseus. Heracles. Rediscover the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths. Whether recounting a tender love affair or a heroic triumph, Fry deftly finds resonance with our own modern minds and hearts.
-
-
Great stories wonderfully told
- By Valerie on 2020-11-22
-
Great Mythologies of the World
- Written by: The Great Courses, Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, and others
- Narrated by: Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, Kathryn McClymond, and others
- Length: 31 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The deep-seated origins and wide-reaching lessons of ancient myths built the foundation for our modern legacies. Explore the mythologies of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Learn what makes these stories so important, distinctive, and able to withstand the test of time. Discover how, despite geographical implausibilities, many myths from across the oceans share themes, morals, and archetypes.
-
-
Tinny Sound Made it Very Difficult to Listen To
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-06-18
-
Ancient Mesopotamia
- Life in the Cradle of Civilization
- Written by: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Amanda H. Podany PhD
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mesopotamia is the ancient name for the region that is now Iraq, a remarkably advanced civilization that flourished for two-thirds of the time that civilization has existed on Earth. Mesopotamians mastered irrigation agriculture; built the first complex urban societies; developed writing, literature, and law; and united vast regions through warfare and diplomacy. While civilizations like Greece and Rome have an unbroken tradition of written histories, the rich history of Mesopotamia has only been recently rediscovered, thanks to the decipherment of Mesopotamia's cuneiform writing less than 200 years ago.
-
-
Marvelous style of history telling
- By Yehuda Mansell on 2019-01-07
Publisher's Summary
Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
Yet even after deciphering its hieroglyphs, and marveling at its scarabs, mummies, obelisks, and sphinxes, Egyptian civilization remains one of history's most mysterious, as "other" as it is extraordinary. This chronological survey presents the complete history of ancient Egypt's three great Kingdoms: the Old Kingdom, when the pyramids were built and Egypt became a nation under the supreme rule of the pharaoh and the rules of Egyptian art were established; the Middle Kingdom, when Egypt was a nation fighting to restore its greatness; and the New Kingdom, when all the names we know today-Hatshepsut, Tutankhamen, Ramses the Great, Cleopatra, and others-first appeared. Professor Brier's 48 lectures glisten with the kind of vivid anecdotes and human glimpses that make this ancient world breathe again.
"The fun of history is in the details," he notes. "Knowing that Ramses the Great was crippled by arthritis for the last decade of his long life makes us more sympathetic to the boastful monarch who fathered more than 100 children. If we understand what it was like to be a miner sent to the turquoise mines in the Sinai mountains in the summer, we will feel a kinship with our long-dead counterparts."
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
What listeners say about The History of Ancient Egypt
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- 101
- 2018-10-03
A Moderately Entertaining Dive
A Moderately Entertaining Dive
This lecture series was a nice relaxing listen. The lecturer takes true delight in sharing his insights into he subject, and this really lends the whole series an air of excitement.
My only criticism is that I tend to prefer a more in depth, or shall I say, focused series when selecting these sorts of lectures. I like more detail oriented history books and lectures; less of the broad strokes kind that this series presents.
It’s very good introduction to the study of ancient Egypt. However for those of us who have already done some reading, it may fall a bit flat.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Andrew
- 2017-12-27
3000 years through time
I absolutely loved this lecture. Very informative, entertaining, and mind opening. So many different occurrences and individuals throughout this 3000 year period. Once the greatest power on the earth, this lecture is worth the listen!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-02-24
Very Engaging!
He tells the history as an unfolding story - keeps your attention. He has such enthusiasm for his subject that it makes you want to learn more. I will be searching for more of his works!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2021-02-14
An Analysis of a History of Egypt by Brier
I found the storytelling of Brier to be quite captivating and will go through his lectures 2 or 3 times more. Bob Brier is well versed in his subject but this subject is a very deep one. Questions that I would have liked answered were: Which Pharoah did Abram visit when he entered Egypt in 1917 BCE ? Is there any truth to some of the writings in the 19th century that indicated that Osiris was a historical figure and that he was killed by another historical figure by the name of Shem in the biblical record and the name of Seth in the historical record of the Egyptians? I would have liked Bob Brier to com up with an exact chronological record of the Egyptians.
Is any part of the historical record of the Egyptians fabricated? How could Ramses be considered a Pharoah of the Exodus when the biblical record indicates that this Pharoah had to be on the throne more than 79 years. The biblical chronology clearly indicates the earliest time period possible for the Egyptian language to be 2243 BCE. If this statement is true than why does the Egyptian chronology go back to almost 4000 BCE? Is the Egyptian record based on fake gods more accurate than the biblical record which is part of a living culture which is still alive in the 21st century. These and many more questions need to be addressed and I doubt if these questions will be addressed in the schools of higher learning.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chris
- 2021-02-09
More like story time than a history course
I do not understand how this course manages to be as underwhelming as it is. Prof. Brier avoids the mention of any contemporary history outside of Egypt, has a distinctive (run-on) manner of speech that seems distinctive of his generation, and has made several historical errors than even one with a passing familiarity of Egyptian history would catch (first to mind is the 'Sea of Reeds' debacle).
The course is more of a man telling anecdotes and stories surrounding Egyptology and archeology that a real history class, and it is unfortunate because Prof. Brier clearly has the interest and (seemingly) the knowledge base. If you are looking for a thorough and rigorous history, pass on this course.
-
Overall
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-01-31
Muddled, Basic, Charismatic
Bob Brier is an excellent presenter, however, I cannot recommend this survey of Ancient Egypt. Reason being, its structure is muddled and its content is often woefully shallow. This is not a university-level series of lectures - understand.
Whereas I played Kenneth Harl's lecture series without interruption, here, I frequently had to manually choose which lecture to listen to next. Bob jumps from speaking on an iconic individual one lecture to an unrelated matter the next (e.g. the chronology of the late 18th Dynasty followed by how the Egyptians mummified their dead). Moreover, I was immensely disappointed at how Bob focused on the figureheads of Ancient Egypt with surface-level information; it felt like a documentary geared for high school students. I understand it is a survey, but still, there is a staggering amount of pertinent information. Essentially, I take issue with what Bib chooses to focus on and how this series's time is spent.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jason Mohr
- 2021-01-19
Excellent
Throughly enjoyed Bob Brier's course. even though it's over 24 hours in length would listen too again.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- L1stentomysoul
- 2021-01-11
It was like I was re-living a nightmare University
I couldn't get past the first segment where he spent 20 minutes talking about biases. This guy is a total snooze factor, the context may be interesting but I couldn't get too far into it as he was lecturing about biases and how his way was the right way to interpret Egpyt. Not what I expected at all, and I am VERY glad it was free or I would have been trying to get my money back.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michel M.
- 2021-01-10
Super cours
Pour n’importe qui qui s’intéresse à l’Egypte des pharaons de loin, un incroyable tour d’horizon de cette civilisation. Bob Brier est un excellent compteur et vulgarisateur.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shawn Heyn
- 2020-12-12
Wonderful!
I didn't think I would last the whole way. Wow, was I surprised how quickly the final episode came. Great series!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nassir
- 2013-07-09
Incomprehensibly complete
I once had the opportunity to listen to this series, and I did so twice. Now the opportunity to own it on Audible has put tears in my eyes, literally tears in my eyes. This series won't make you an Egyptologist, but you will know so much by the end of it that the uninitiated might mistake you for one. I once visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a friend and when we hit the Egypt section I turned into a tour guide. After explaining how the Temple of Dendur ended up in New York, I turned and drew her attention to the interesting art style of the Amarna panels, and at this point she stopped me and asked, "How do you know all this?" This is how I know all this. I once held a group of people around a campfire in Eastern Washington spellbound for an hour as spoke on what we owed to the Egyptians, the basic ways of thinking and acting that we owe to them. I'm serious... spellbound (it helped that everyone was a bit intoxicated.)
This series will make you interesting. They might as well stick a guarantee on it.
Just to give you an idea... there's a half hour on mummified animals. Mummified ANIMALS. There's already about two solid hours on human mummies, but Brier feels that to be complete you need to know about the animals as well. If you are thinking, "How am I going to get through thirty minutes on dried up animals, let alone 24 solid hours on Egypt?" let me assure you, it will be over before you know it and before you want it to be. I've listened to a lot of Teaching Company lectures in my time, and while they never have anyone truly boring you often are reminded that these people are all university professors. But Brier's delivery is almost mesmerizing, his enthusiasm for the subject positively boyish. This series will never require your patience.
There may be special interest to those with an interest in Biblical history, whether you are Christian or otherwise. Whenever you reach a point where Biblical history intersects with Egyptian, Brier will stop and discuss it. There are several lectures devoted exclusively to the topic. I'll lay it out: Brier is a historian and therefore does not regard the Bible stories as literal truths, but he treats them with true sympathy and interest. His conclusions really surprised me, especially regarding the Exodus. His speculations on Joseph are perhaps more of a stretch.
The one rather slight downside to the whole series is that Brier has some rather fanciful theories about the life and times... and death... of Tutankhamen, a lot of which have been, if I'm not mistaken, disproven in the years since this first came out and which anyway were never taken seriously in mainstream Egyptology. Speculating about the Bible is one thing, but Brier doesn't pretend it's anything but speculation. His Tutankhamen material is, despite disclaimers, told with the passion of a true believer, which makes it slightly tragic when you discover afterwards that some of the basic facts just aren't there. It makes for an interesting listen, at least.
Overall, this is a MUST PURCHASE. Everyone needs a pair of really good shoes, a couple of good jackets, and a lecture series on Ancient Egypt. Do not hesitate.
249 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- brian
- 2014-07-24
Captivating story of Kmt
Dr. Brier does an excellent job delivering this series of lectures -- they are a true pleasure to listen to. If you're shopping for your next Great Courses series and you're not immediately jazzed about ancient Egypt, after the first couple of lectures you will be, or at least I was. He keeps the narrative free from too much jargon while still packing in richly detailed descriptions. I also enjoyed the frequent anecdotes on the early Egyptologists and their contributions to the field.
Dr. Brier will bring up some details often enough to feel redundant, but to be fair, I will probably never forget now that the Nile flows North and the winds blow South, making it trivial to navigate. However, my biggest gripe having only the audio available was his aversion to giving dates. I agree with him that the relative dating is more important, but if you're familiar with other Near Eastern ancient history, it makes it pretty difficult to align with other events in the Fertile Crescent. Not worth taking any stars off though, it just means looking up some things in a reference as or after you listen.
27 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tommy D'Angelo
- 2017-01-11
Solidly Good Course on 3,000 Years of History
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
This is a solidly good course. Covering 3,000 years of history in 48 lectures is not easy (some lectures covered 200 years of history: the entire length of the existence of the United States---Imagine doing that in 30 minutes!). The professor is an encyclopedia on the topic.
Because this is ancient history and not a lot is definitively known about the actual historical events of the time (be it political, religious, or military), more of the course is focused on the archaeological discoveries of artifacts and royal tombs as well as descriptions of the ancient structures and temples built than the recounting of actual historical events. But a lot of history is covered. I can't exactly put my finger on it but the professor’s style of recounting it didn't fully resonate with me. Maybe I expected more from a general storytelling theme perspective. Not sure I can articulate it well but it is hard for me to rate this higher than a 3.5 compared with other Great Courses.
Most of the course focused on the Pharaohs and not a lot of time spent on the everyday ancient Egyptian. This is neither a plus nor a minus but thought I'd call it out if you are looking for the latter!
Pluses:
• A chronological recounting of ancient Egyptian history from the earliest known humans to 30 BC
• The course provided insight into archaeology and it's tips and tricks on how to infer what the unearthed discoveries tell us about ancient civilizations and how history occurred (especially when no historical documents exist)
• Best lectures: 15 (assessing the authenticity of the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis in the Bible), 28 (How to make a mummy), 32 (assessing the authenticity of the story of the Exodus in the Bible), and 47 (Cleopatra)
Minuses:
• Hard to follow discussions on the architecture of the burial structures and the pyramids via audio (perhaps video would’ve made a difference)
• The professor rarely provided dates when explaining historical events or certain dynasties; While I’m sure dating would be difficult and speculative for much of the time period covered, it would’ve been nice to hear the commonly accepted view of scholars on when these events occurred or dynasties existed; Otherwise the discussion ends up sounding like an endless stream of Pharaohs and kings with no sense of placement in time
• While it would be unrealistic to expect the professor to cover every single Pharaoh, I was a tad disappointed that as far as I can remember he did not at least provide a total number of kings (for completeness sake) even though he discussed the list of Pharaohs found in certain ancient temples
Bottom line: I recommend this course to anyone interested in ancient history or even non history buffs who find themselves intrigued by ancient Egyptian society. You will especially find this course thrilling if archaeology is your passion.
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sara M. Loera
- 2014-08-10
So, so good.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
These lectures are incredible. I have done a few of the Great Courses series here on audible, and I am usually bored and a little lost by the last few lectures. I had the opposite experience with this one...I was actually more enthralled and intrigued as they went on, and I mourned the last lecture when it was over because I didn't want the story to end!! So much magic, intrigue, mystery and drama. I can't say enough good things about this. It was so good that I'm actually starting it over to listen to it again. I never knew I would be so into Egyptology, but really, what's not to like?? It's amazing!! Bob Brier does a wonderful job, he is fun to listen to, New York accent and all. Truly amazing stuff here.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Cleopatra and Hatshepsut...girl power!! Snefru and Rameses the Great were awesome too! Really all the "characters" presented here are super interesting.
What about Professor Bob Brier’s performance did you like?
He seems really passionate about what he's taking about. He is never boring.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I constantly found myself saying "woooow" and "cooool" out loud while listening to these lectures on my headphones, eliciting some strange looks from my boyfriend.
Any additional comments?
Just listen, and become obsessed!! I did!!
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patralis
- 2014-04-27
Well spoken and informative introduction
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I have been an audible customer for many years now with over 1000 books in my library but this is my first review. I write it because of another review of this book that I found to be completely off the mark. This course is an introduction and as such, it is basic history and background. With over 2,500 years worth of history to cover, it would be impossible to go into much detail. Having said this, Dr. Brier does an excellent job of making the history and culture come alive. His knowledge of,and passion for, the subject come through in vivid detail. The course touches on history, religion, culture and legacy of the oldest and longest lasting civilization on the planet, not an easy task for a single course.
The review which prompted this response stated that Dr. Brier seemed to talk down to his audience and pushed forward his own opinions too much. He did, but with reason. Dr. Brier is famous as the PBS star who's films have educated an entire generation about the wonders of Egypt. He is the world's foremost expert on the process of making mummies and is the only one in modern times to successfully reproduce an authentic mummified body. There is no one who better combines the expertise, knowledge, experience and showmanship then Dr. Brier. For basic overview and general knowledge this course is excellent, informative and enjoyable. If you desire more in depth knowledge, then a more specific title would be more valuable to you. If you like mummies, this course has more specific information then any other I have found.
29 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Travis Greene
- 2013-09-27
Excellent Lecture Series
What made the experience of listening to The History of Ancient Egypt the most enjoyable?
The professor is engaging and a great story teller. He gives you all the information you could want without boring you. He does an excellent job of making you want to learn more about Ancient Egypt. I feel like I got an accurate portrayal of the psychology, religion, architecture, medicine, magic, technology, and sociology of the Ancient Egyptians.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Absolutely. I listened to to for hours at a time and never lost interest.
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- aaron gilbert
- 2014-06-24
So well taught! So interesting!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, I would recommend this to anyone who has even a passing interest in the topic.
What other book might you compare The History of Ancient Egypt to and why?
This is a series of lectures. I have listened to several such programs. This one is so far my favorite.
Have you listened to any of Professor Bob Brier’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have heard nothing else by Mr. Brier. I would however like to.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The lecturer did an amazing job keeping this interesting. It is broken into half hour lectures and each one was a joy to experience.
Any additional comments?
If you are like I was and you keep looking at the Great Lectures wondering if you might enjoy them then this is the perfect place to start.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tim
- 2016-12-14
Fabulous time travel to anchient times
I have always loved ancient Egypt. It seems so distant, alien almost magical. This magnificent lecture cycle brings this world to vibrant life. The danger of going in depth in history is that it can get dull. At no point does this epic set become boring. The author and presenter Professor Bob Brier sounds like your average New Joysey taxi driver which is charming and always interesting. He makes the content approachable, even fun. It’s fascinating at every turn. He plots the 3,000 years of the oldest greatest civilization on earth in fulfilling, thought provoking detail. If you have any interest in this area you will be delighted, even if you have never gotten further than India Jones in archeology you will be highly entertained. Give it a shot. It’s a ton of very interesting content for a single credit. There can be no better way to soak up a commute than 24 solid hours of ancient history made comprehensible to the modern mind.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bernica
- 2013-08-25
Worth the time
The professor organized this course in an understandable, accessible way. I learned much and it was entertaining.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Emily
- 2013-09-18
Vast History of Ancient Egypt Made Manageable
What did you love best about The History of Ancient Egypt?
I used to think that the history of Ancient Egypt was as overwhelming and daunting as a trek across the desert. Professor Brier takes the listener step by step and breaks it down into manageable sections, like a traveler going from oasis to oasis, with time for review and reflection between segments. He also tells some great campfire stories about colorful Egyptologists in history, his own experiences in Egypt, and his work on creating a modern mummy.
What other book might you compare The History of Ancient Egypt to and why?
Bob Brier does a lot of television documentaries, and he's just the same in his lectures. He gives his own theories about historical events, as well as theories by others, and lets the listener decide.
Which scene was your favorite?
I enjoyed his lectures about Egyptians referenced in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament. Specifically, Joseph and Moses.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
The lecture about how he created a modern mummy was kind of gross, but so interesting that I listened to it more than once!
Any additional comments?
I'm not sure if this is because he's from New York, but he talks about the ancient Egyptians in the way someone would talk about people in their neighborhood or their extended family. For example, he called Pharaoh Snefru a great builder, but also a bit of a nerd. He loves the Ancient Egyptians so much that he tries to present as complete portrait as he can: the good, the bad, and the quirky.
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2020-07-08
This is amazingly well written
I never wanted a course on Egyptian history, but the intro grabbed my attention. This has become one of my favorite books.