War, Peace, and Power: Diplomatic History of Europe, 1500-2000

By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius

For much of the past five centuries, the history of the European continent has been a history of chaos, its civilization thrown into turmoil by ferocious wars or bitter religious conflicts - sometimes in combination - that have made and remade borders, created and eliminated entire nations, and left a legacy that is still influencing our world.

This 36-lecture series from an award-winning teacher and honored scholar pursues an explanation for this chaos that goes beyond the obvious ones of political ambition, religious intolerance, the pursuit of state power, or the fear of another state's aspirations. In pursuing that explanation, Professor Liulevicius offers everyone interested in the "why" of history a remarkable look into the evolution of the European continent and the modern state system. His provocative lectures allow us to peer through the revealing lens of statecraft to show us its impact on war, peace, and power and how that impact may well be felt in the future.

As you learn to examine key points on history's diplomatic timeline in the context of attempting to establish - successfully and not - a lasting idea of order in the European world, you'll begin to grasp the key Professor Liulevicius offers to understanding the dynamics of international politics. And you'll see how such key concepts as the balance of power, power itself, sovereignty, and "reason of state" - the raison d'état first enunciated by France's powerful Cardinal Richelieu - fit into those dynamics.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2007 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2007 The Great Courses

History for the Diplomat

If you could sum up War, Peace, and Power: Diplomatic History of Europe, 1500-2000 in three words, what would they be?

Outstanding European History

Who was your favorite character and why?

Otto von Bismarck

What about Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius’s performance did you like?

He explains things very clearly, and makes the complex seem simple to understand.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the Great Courses by the Teaching Company. They're long, and involved. But if you really want to understand the subject, there are no better ways to learn.

Good

good stuff even though he plugs his other book several times during the lectures. Well worth the listen

expert presentation

Professor Liulevicius presented the material in a factual and egaging way, No bias or personal agenda vomes through. Refreshing

Greater level of detail than most

I always enjoy Dr. Liulevicius's presentations. What I especially enjoyed about this course was the greater level of detail of the interplay of personalities, motivations, and events in the context of the time in which they occurred versus how we see things in retrospect.

Pro Forma Orthodoxy

No mention of US dropping Atom Bomb on Japan as a shocking act of diplomacy. No Iran Contra. No objective discussion of Gulf war motivation and outcomes. Sad, manipulative, incompetent and incomplete. Ass kissing feel good BS.