The Great Courses
Author
Series
Industrial Revolution volume 26
Language
English
Description
Compare Britain and the United States in the 19th century to see what forces caused Britain to lose its competitive edge in the Industrial Revolution. While labor unions and fewer raw materials put Britain at a disadvantage, the real difference lay in each nation's attitude toward work, leisure, and social class.
Author
Series
Industrial Revolution volume 1
Language
English
Description
Step into the story of one of the greatest periods in history. Although there is much to dislike about industrialization (including the loss of traditional ways of life, increased economic inequality, and environmental problems) we should nevertheless be grateful for the Industrial Revolution. Investigate why in this opening episode.
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Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 31
Language
English
Description
From the 17th through the 20th century, Britain's empire spanned the globe, giving this small island an outsized role on the world's stage. But while Britain was making an impact in India, New Zealand, Canada, and elsewhere, these nations were having an impact on Britain. Explore the ethnic and cultural diversity in Britain today.
Author
Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 26
Language
English
Description
Continue your literary journey through Britain. From the great Scottish writers Walter Scott and Robert Burns to Wordsworth's evocative descriptions of the Lake District, the Romantic writers of the 18th and 19th centuries created an enduring mood and style that still resonate today. Also tour the quiet villages where Jane Austen worked and the Jurassic coast at Lyme Regis.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 11
Language
English
Description
The invention of the steam engine was a major turning point for industry. Meet the engineers and businessmen who developed and improved the engines and locomotives that would drive the British economy in the 19th century. Key figures include James Watt, Matthew Boulton, John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson, and George Stephenson.
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Series
Language
English
Description
Like the medieval castles, Britain's cathedrals are astounding sites and an absolute must for any visitor to the island. Here, Professor Allitt explores the major milestones in cathedral architecture, from the Romanesque style of Durham Cathedral to the gothic style of Canterbury. He also takes you to the world-renowned Westminster Abbey.
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Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 16
Language
English
Description
Head south to the capital city of Cardiff, where impressive civic buildings and the National Museum of Wales await you. The architecture of this city is magnificent, and offers much to see, from the polychromatic fantasy rooms of Cardiff Castle to the dome over the National Museum. Then turn to the South Wales towns of Tredegar and Swansea, home of Dylan Thomas.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 14
Language
English
Description
Where would the world's machines be without the tools with which to build and service them? We seldom think of the humble nuts and bolts that hold our machines together, but someone had to create and standardize them. Find out about that process and reflect on the importance (and impact) of industrial tools and their makers.
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Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 15
Language
English
Description
Shift your attention to the other country within the nation. Beginning with Offa's Dyke and touring a ring of castles - including the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Conwy Castle and Harlech - this tour of North Wales is an ideal introduction to the Welsh landscape, history, and heritage.
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Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 23
Language
English
Description
Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament are two of the most popular tourist destinations, and they embody the government of Great Britain. See why these buildings are such a draw, learn about their architecture and renovations over the years, and reflect on the nature of Britain's constitutional monarchy.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 21
Language
English
Description
Great Britain may have started the revolution, but other nations soon followed, and they had the advantage of learning from Britain's trials and errors. Reflect on why the rest of Europe lagged behind in the Industrial Revolution, and take a look at what efforts Belgium, France, and Germany took to catch up.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 20
Language
English
Description
Continue your study of American industrialization with a look at the steamships, canals, and railways that opened up the great continent. Then, turn to a series of great inventions in the 19th century, including the McCormick reaper, the John Deere steel plow, the telegraph, and the Colt revolver.
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Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 27
Language
English
Description
Shelley, Keats, and Byron are three of the world's finest poets, and their work is steeped in the history and landscape of Britain. Reflect on the land that inspired their finest works, and then turn to the world of the Brontë sisters in the North and Charles Dickens in the South, whose novels evoke not only the land but also the people of the 19th century.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 9
Language
English
Description
Meet Josiah Wedgwood, whose pottery is among the most famous in the world. Thanks to his innovations in pottery-making technique and his division and "de-skilling" of labor in his factories, he turned his family's cottage industry into an immense, lucrative manufacturing phenomenon.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 23
Language
English
Description
Learn the history of one of the most successful companies in American history. As oil became one of the world's most lucrative industries, John D. Rockefeller seized opportunities and built a monopoly with Standard Oil. Consider his questionable business tactics and the antitrust regulation they inspired.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 10
Language
English
Description
Transportation became critically important as new industries emerged. Find out how canal builders connected major cities by water, which greatly enhanced the country's internal communications and allowed for the transportation of goods over long distances at relatively low cost. Look at the methods of building a canal and several key routes.
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Series
Great Tours England Scotland and Wales volume 17
Language
English
Description
England is a nation of regions, and the wild Pennine Hills in the north - "Wuthering Heights" country - is one of the must-see stops in your travels. Here, cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, and York were industrial dynamos in the 19th century - and the National Railway Museum in York is one of Professor Allitt's top-rated destinations for visitors.
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Series
Language
English
Description
From the end of the Wars of the Roses in 1485 to the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, Britain experienced severe political upheavals. Among other events, Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church to found the Church of England. Witness how the era's architecture - including Hampton Court Palace, Hardwick Hall, and Sulgrave Manor - reflected the political turmoil.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 17
Language
English
Description
As industrialists in the 18th and 19th centuries became wealthy, they were able to gain political power and influence national policy. Delve into the debates over free trade and the political regulation of industry. Then look at some of the era's efforts at political reform and several notable acts of Parliament.
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Series
Industrial Revolution volume 4
Language
English
Description
Traverse the country to see where industry took off, starting with a detailed look at the advantages and dangers of life in London. Then, shift your attention to provincial cities and towns, where industrialists had to combat the guild system of labor, alcohol in the workplace, and workers who preferred the older, slower pace of life.