"A captivating exploration of how "Western Civilization"--the concept of a single cultural inheritance extending from ancient Greece to modern times--is a powerful figment of our collective imagination"--

Describes the ancient Egyptian practice of preserving the dead through the process of mummification and explains what scientists have learned from unwrapping and examining mummies.

This course of 48 lectures explores the essential contours of the human experience in what has come to be called "Western civilization." From its humble beginnings in the ancient Near East to the dawn of the modern world, these presentations cover developments from about 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1600.

Describes the history, religion, and social customs of ancient India, including their love and respect for all animals. Who were people of the ancient world? What was it like to be a farmer or a soldier or an artisan in ancient times? This series creates portraits of life in ancient civilizations through the inhabitants. Each chapter focuses on a different part of society, such as peasants, scholars/scribes, priests, soldiers, rulers, and more. This...