Learn about history with the Great Courses
Published on 7th March 2022
Are you a history buff? Or do you just like to dabble occasionally in things historical? Well, we have a great online resource for you. To access the Great Courses, click on the Extras link on the Libby app (available to install on your device from Google Play - Android or iTunes - iOS). More in last paragraph.
The Great Courses offers video-based learning which you can watch at a time, place and pace that suits you. Each course is taught by experts in their field, and includes a supplementary guide book. There are hundreds of courses to choose from, and you can play, pause, and review information as often as you like.
There’s no homework, no tests, so no pressure.
To whet your appetite for learning, here’s a small sample of the history courses available.
The Irish Identity: Independence, History, and Literature: Guided by great works from Yeats, Joyce, Lady Gregory, and others, discover the dazzling world of the Irish Renaissance.
The Celtic World: Travel through time from 500 B.C. to today and rediscover the Celts with a Harvard-educated professor.
America’s Long Struggle against Slavery: Witness the centuries-long fight against the institution of slavery from the western coast of Africa to the plantations and battlefields of America.
Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals: 36 Great Women before 1400: Step back in time and view history through the stories of 36 women that changed the world with their ideas, their leadership, and their sacrifices.
Native Peoples of North America: Join the Smithsonian and an award-winning professor to recount an epic story of resistance and accommodation, of extraordinary hardship and survival.
Food: A Cultural Culinary History: Learn how the entirety of human civilization - war, trade, politics, art, religion, and more - has been shaped by our interaction with food in this delicious course.
History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective: Look at world history through the lens of religion, philosophy, the visual arts, literature, and more.
Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization: Uncover the undeniable legacy that the Mesopotamians left the world.
Ancient Civilizations of North America: Join the Director of the Maya Exploration Centre to discover the astounding accomplishments of the ancient North Americans and their significant legacy.
The Decisive Battles of World History: Examine the military encounters that most profoundly affected history in this sweeping course that spans from chariot battles in ancient Egypt to modern conflicts.
The Pagan World: Ancient Religions before Christianity: Take a close, behind-the-scenes look at religion and life in the ancient Mediterranean world to see how early pagan religions helped shape the world as we know it today.
The Mongol Empire: Learn how the Mongols both terrorised and advanced the world in this fascinating course.
The Agency: A History of the CIA: We spied with our little eyes, well, spies. Pull back the covers on the secret world-changing efforts of the agency.
The Real History of Secret Societies: Secret's out, people. We're pulling back the hood on centuries of underground groups and infamous hidden networks.
Understanding the Inventions That Changed the World: Enjoy a brilliant course that will transform the way you think about science, technology, and the entire course of human history.
Cities of the Ancient World: From Uruk and Jericho to Athens and Rome, explore ancient urban landscapes and draw connections between the cities of centuries past and those of our modern world.
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach: Explore pivotal incidents of catastrophic failure in battle and consider how these errors changed the course of history in this fascinating 24-lesson series.
The Real History of Pirates: Take a fresh look at history and reconsider how we define pirates, explorers, and other sea-faring figures during the early years of the Age of Sail.
The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague: Taught by a celebrated medievalist, go on an unforgettable excursion into the time period of the plague, its full human repercussions, and its transformative effects on European civilisation.
Renaissance: The Transformation of the West: Join a master historian for a revealing, comprehensive look at how the European Renaissance revolutionized politics, society, and faith.
The History and Archaeology of the Bible: Delve into the iconic stories of the Bible through the eyes of historians and archaeologists, and discover how their findings bring fascinating and revealing perspectives to the world-shaping texts of scripture.
Decoding the Secrets of Egyptian Hieroglyphs: Decipher the language of ancient Egypt and learn what hieroglyphs can tell us about history.
To access the Great Courses, click on the Extras link on the Libby app (available to install on your device from Google Play - Android or iTunes - iOS).
Simply follow the prompts to find Dublin City Libraries, and register with your library card number and PIN. Just remember to put in Dublin City when asked, and not the name of your local library.
You can access as many courses as you want to for 7 days. After 7 days, you simply log in again and get another 7 day’s access.
For more information on using Libby, check out our how to video
If you don’t have a library card at the moment or if you need to renew your library membership, contact your local library and they will help you; see here for more information on library membership; or contact us at [email protected]
We’re always happy to help!
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