leyaruth42's review against another edition
2.0
While the lectures provided were very informational and enlightening, I was disappointed that this professor completely glossed over 1500+ years of history of Eastern Europe. This region was populated and contributed to the history of major empires (Rome, Byzantium, Ottoman, etc) for a very long time. Lots of interesting stuff happened there, especially during the Middle Ages. This professor barely spends one lecture on it, starting around 1300. His specialty must be modern history. He spends many lectures on the Communist period. Which is fascinating, but most of us listening to these lectures can remember those periods, and these lectures are basically just rehashing what we learned growing up. I think he could've spent several lectures detailing the ancient history of the region, 1 or two on the middle ages history, and then spent the rest of the series on the modern history. So, sadly, I can't overly recommend this lecture series unless you are really interested in the modern history of this region.
taylorzart's review against another edition
4.0
This lecture series was comprehensive and engaging, giving form to a history this is extremely multi-layered. And Liulevicius would incorporate historical jokes and literature that brought this incredibly vast history back to the human experience of it.
All in all, I learned many things and now won't shut up about Eastern Europe. So the lecture series was a success.
All in all, I learned many things and now won't shut up about Eastern Europe. So the lecture series was a success.
ladyarwen's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely cursory overview of Eastern European history from the medieval ages up to a few years ago. This is good for people with any level of background in the subject.
These lectures are well done, giving plenty of historical detail while emphasizing human experience (with emotional stories, plenty of jokes, and an emphasis on the emotional impacts of events and emotional links between people) and a few key ideas that this historian feels define Eastern Europe as a region (uprisings of national groups in the face of adversity, the presence of the past, etc.)
These lectures are well done, giving plenty of historical detail while emphasizing human experience (with emotional stories, plenty of jokes, and an emphasis on the emotional impacts of events and emotional links between people) and a few key ideas that this historian feels define Eastern Europe as a region (uprisings of national groups in the face of adversity, the presence of the past, etc.)
tyranny's review
2.0
The main issue with this book, is that the author races through most of early Eastern European history, than lags massively talking about the cold war. Which yes that's a pivotal event in the history of the region, however the author recounting of the events reads more a ideological refutation of communism/ ideological support of free markets.
Going so far as to assert U.S sitting president Ronald Reagan knew the wall was coming down and had a hand in it happening.
Yet the author doesn't cover the damage or issues which occured during the switch to another economic system for the region, without anything but a hand wave. Then the rest of the book is a race to now, without much detail besides those weird cold war era jokes here and there.
I could go on, but overall I think there are better, less ideologically biased history books to read on the topic. So id give this a pass.
Going so far as to assert U.S sitting president Ronald Reagan knew the wall was coming down and had a hand in it happening.
Yet the author doesn't cover the damage or issues which occured during the switch to another economic system for the region, without anything but a hand wave. Then the rest of the book is a race to now, without much detail besides those weird cold war era jokes here and there.
I could go on, but overall I think there are better, less ideologically biased history books to read on the topic. So id give this a pass.
drifterontherun's review
4.0
Eastern Europe is a fascinating region and this course does a great job of giving a broad overview of it. Great to listen to in order to find some regions to delve deeper into.
pearseanderson's review
3.0
A fine history of modern Eastern Europe, but just that: modern! A broad overview bc there's just too much to cover easily, but I definetly expected more ancient and medieveal information that I could absorb and learn from. Good Polish, Baltic, and Hungarian info in here. Some of the critiques of communism felt like they needed much, much better contextualization. 7/10? Ya
readnighter's review
4.0
Even as an eastern european you can still find much to learn from this course. To my initial surprise, the course insists a bit too much on Poland (also Jews have two dedicated lessons - from 24), while Romania or Bulgaria are "covered" only in passing in some of the lessons (even Albania gets a more detailed presentation). But I guess this is explained by the fact that americans (the intended public for the course) are more familiar and probably interested in those topics.
Anyway, the course is loaded with enough information, references and jokes (yeah, jokes) to be a satisfactory and motivating introduction in the history of this very troubled part of the world.
Anyway, the course is loaded with enough information, references and jokes (yeah, jokes) to be a satisfactory and motivating introduction in the history of this very troubled part of the world.
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