Cutting Edge combines the comprehensive syllabus and reliable teaching resources that have made the course so popular with brand-new features, making it even fresher and easier to use. В архиве собственноручный rip с 3-х аудиокассет 128 kbps, 44,1 kHz, Stereo (хотя на кассетах запись, как мне показалось моно)
It can be argued that one simple idea—the concept of freedom—has been the driving force of Western civilization and may be the most influential intellectual force the world has ever known.
But what is freedom, exactly?
Join historian and classical scholar J. Rufus Fears as he tells freedom's dramatic story from ancient Greece to our own day, exploring a concept so close to us we may never have considered it with the thoroughness it deserves.
Europe and the Wars of Religion (1500-1700) (24 lectures, 30 minutes/lecture)
Taught by Govind Sreenivasan
Brandeis University
Ph.D., Harvard University The period covered in this course (1500-1700) was a very turbulent time. There was a great deal of political instability combined with power struggles between political leaders within a country, various countries, and religious institutions. Throughout the time the various political leaders tried to consolidate their power and expand their territories and influence. At the same time the church was trying to consolidate its authority and power.
With everyone trying to consolidate and centralize their power there came times when their goals were in direct opposition to each other. When a political authority and a church authority considered themselves both to be the ultimate authority in a matter or over an area there was sure to be conflict. When a persecuted minority saw opportunity to become recognized and fit into society they had to take those opportunities.
This course focuses on five primary conflicts that came out of these clashes between different political and religious interests. The five conflicts are the French Wars of Religion, the Revolt of the Netherlands, the Thirty Years War, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution. An example of how these conflicts were tied to politics and power struggles is a situation where the "official" religion of the
country is whatever religion the king practiced and any other religion was persecuted or at most barely tolerated. This was a very common situation of the time period. Sometimes a king would die and a child would be placed on the throne. This situation presented the opportunity for the minority religion to influence the child and so find a place of acceptance in society. Of course, the established religion had an interest in maintaining its position.
To understand the internal strife and wars of the time period without looking at the religious factors is to understand a single element that does not present a complete picture. This was a time period when the church was often more powerful than the ruler in many matters and so to understand the period requires an understanding of the effect of religion and the religious wars on society. This is a highly recommended course and Professor Sreenivasan does an excellent job of bringing a complex political quagmire into clear focus so all sides of the situation become understandable.
God and Mankind: Comparative Religions (8 lectures, 45 minutes/lecture) Taught by Robert Oden Carleton College Ph.D., Harvard University
Life ... ? Death ... ? Suffering ... ? Redemption ... ? The origin of being ... ? Each of these complex issues raises many, many questions. How do the major religious systems address those questions? And what do their answers tell us? An Ideal Starting Point for Inquiry These eight lectures by Dr. Robert Oden are an ideal starting point for pursuing those questions. And if you've been thinking about them for a while, as so many do, you will likely discover he has many fresh insights to offer you.
Economics: An Introduction Part I: Overview and Microeconomics Part II: Macroeconomics and Conclusion An Audio Economics Course Taught by Timothy Taylor, University of Minnesota Published by The Teaching Company 20 Lectures
Reviewed by David S. Dahl Public Affairs Economist Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
country is whatever religion the king practiced and any other religion was persecuted or at most barely tolerated. This was a very common situation of the time period. Sometimes a king would die and a child would be placed on the throne. This situation presented the opportunity for the minority religion to influence the child and so find a place of acceptance in society. Of course, the established religion had an interest in maintaining its position. 
