Great courses. History. Ancient history.

Lecturer: the author

Giza? Why are we so transfixed by their presence today? And what do they reveal about our ancestors - and humanity? The dynamic force of religious belief is responsible for some of the world's most popular and ancient locales. With these 36 riveting lectures, you can dig through the earth and learn how sacred buildings, complexes, tomb structures, artwork, and more have provided us with unparalleled knowledge about early spiritual experiences around the world. Using the tools and knowledge of their field, archaeologists can now determine the nature of a sacrificial ritual, compare the visible attributes of ancient deities, and map out the orientation of a temple or tomb. Professor John Hale of the University of Louisville gives you a comprehensive look at specific religious archaeological sites around the world - inside caves and crypts, through vast deserts and ancient cities, from Polynesia to Mexico to the American Midwest. By the final lap of your international journey, you'll have developed a new vision of religion and its crucial role in ancient history. You'll become more attuned to spirituality's universal elements and its unique characteristics. And you'll realize just how much credit religion deserves for remarkable sites that continue to captivate us. All Lectures: 1. The Roots of Religious Experience 2. Neanderthal Burials at Shanidar 3. Hunting Magic in Sacred Caves 4. Myths of the Shaman 5. Realm of the Mother Goddess 6. Mysteries of the Megaliths 7. Towers and Tombs of Sumeria 8. Tomb of the First Emperor of China 9. Feasting with the Dead at Petra 10. Druid Sacrifice at Lindow Moss? 11. Honoring Ancestors in Ancient Ohio 12. A Viking Queen Sails to Eternity 13. Dancing with Bulls at Knossos 14. Oracle Bones in Ancient China 15. Sun and Sexuality in Early Scandinavia 16. Apollo Speaks at Klaros 17. Chalice of Blood in Ancient Peru 18. Decoding Rituals at Palenque 19. Temple of the Goddess on Malta 20. The Aten - Monotheism in Egypt 21. Deities of the Acropolis 22. Gods and Pyramids at Teotihuacan 23. Sacred City on the Mississippi 24. Sun and Shadow at Machu Picchu 25. Celestial Gateway at Giza 26. Cosmic Hub at Stonehenge 27. Desert Lines at Nazca 28. Skywatchers at Chaco Canyon 29. Mountain of the Gods at Angkor 30. The Stone Heads of Easter Island 31. Tending Zoroaster's Sacred Fire in Iran 32. Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran 33. Taking Religions Underground at Rome 34. Forging Iron at Jenne-jeno on the Niger 35. Carving Monasteries at Ajanta in India 36. Faiths Lost and Found

Mode of access: World Wide Web