Enjoyable, not for Greek newbies...

If you already have a grasp of Ancient Greek history, this will be a good listen about the Peloponnesian war. If you know very little or nothing, it will be harder to follow as the Professor throws out names, places, events rather rapidly and assumes you know what he's talking about. Before listening to the Peloponnesian war, I listened to The long Shadow of the Ancient Greek World by Ian Worthington, so I had the necessary background knowledge to follow along. This series of lectures focuses more on the war as the title suggest and I learned a good deal more about the war and its players and events than I had known before. Even so I wish the lectures were longer and even more details could be provided about the many events as I feel some were glossed over too quickly but in the interest of keeping things moving along, I suppose it's better for most listeners.

14 people found this helpful

I cannot suggest this lecture series enough!

If you could sum up The Peloponnesian War in three words, what would they be?

Harl is great

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Peloponnesian War?

All of it.

What does Professor Kenneth W. Harl bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Harl relays the informative in a comprehendible and digestible manor that makes listening a joy. Nothing kills a lecture like a Prof who is clearly disinterested of bored with the subject but Harl is clearly electrified and excited by the topics at had which in turn only makes the lectures far more engaging.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Knowing little about the greek world, aside from myth and the Iliad, learning about the Greek political climate as well as actual warfare strategies was intensely interesting

Any additional comments?

If you're interested in Greek ancient history then this is a must.

4 people found this helpful

Timeless, Thought Provoking, and Timely

Thank you Professor Harl. As another reviewer observed this is a "serious" course. The histories explored and questioned, the importance of the prelude to the war, the actions within it, and the repercussions throughout and after lend us insight into the important wars and alliances then, and throughout the intervening 2,400 years even unto our present day. This is a course to be studied with the excellent accompanying course PDF and the best maps that you can find to refer to throughout. I will never see our "modern" world the same. More complex, perhaps. More devastating, definitely. More humane or evolved? These questions remain with me as I view the Athenians, Spartans, and others presaging the EU, US, former USSR and Daesh, while wading through alliances, diplomacy, and war after war. If you think critically, you will be challenged with this course.

3 people found this helpful

An excellent choice

Kenneth W. Harl is truly exceptional. Probably the best performance in my experience with the great lectures series, and I own a dozen. Buy it, listen to it, enjoy it, you can't go wrong with this guy.

5 people found this helpful

A very well delivered, and engaging series.

One of the top five lecture series from TTC I have enjoyed to date. The professor does an excellent job of keeping the story interesting. His delivery of this course is what elevates it from merely good to fantastic.

2 people found this helpful

Exhaustive and exciting

Dr. Harl knows how to propel a historical narrative. The treasure that is Thucydides allows him to load these lectures with detail, lending them texture and a sense of immediacy. You're riding along with the Athenians and Spartans on this wild ride. I think Harl's skills as a storyteller shine though better when narrowly focused on the Peloponnesian War, than the broader subjects he also tackles (e.g. Vikings, Steppe Empires, World of Byzantium, etc.). Not to belittle those lectures at all, I enjoyed them thoroughly, just on a different level. Check this out, especially if you enjoyed Harl's take on Alexander the Great.

1 person found this helpful

Unclear

Though the subject is fascinating, Professor Harl talks about it as he would be adressing colleagues. Explanations are unclear at best, confusing at worst. Most of the time, his sentences list numerous people, place and events, in a way that you need a deep background on the subject to follow him.
As a person who never majored in History and whose knowledge of the Era comes from Great Courses (this one was the 6th), the lesson became unpleasant rather quickly. Not for me for sure.

2 people found this helpful

Dr. Harl is brilliant and insightful as always!

if you've listened to other lecture series by Dr Harl, you are in for a treat.

great course

This. Is. Polyponnesia!

i guess the lessions are that both democracy and tyranny always fail and that war... war never changes.

music<br /><br />

I hate that loud intfo music every chapter. know your audience, a lot people go to sleep to this.