World History: Media

The Great War tells the rich and complex story of World War I through the voices of nurses, journalists, aviators and the American troops who came to be known as "doughboys." The series explores the experiences of African-American and Latino soldiers, suffragists, Native American "code talkers" and others whose participation in the war to "make the world safe for democracy" has been largely forgotten. The Great War explores how a brilliant PR man bolstered support for the war; how President Woodrow Wilson steered the nation through years of neutrality, only to reluctantly lead America into the bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen, transforming the United States into a dominant player on the international stage; and how the ardent patriotism and determination to support America's crusade for liberty abroad led to one of the most oppressive crackdowns on civil liberties at home in U.S. history. It is a story of heroism and sacrifice that would ultimately claim 15 million lives and profoundly change the world forever.

Bringing 70,000 years of human history to life, this epic eight-part series travels through time to the big stories of history. It is a human story populated with big characters in the places where the big events really happened. It is the story of civilizations, cultures, successes and crashing failures, a story that charts progress and development through the centuries. Each film explores a crucial turning point in history, featuring dramatic reconstruction, computer graphics and gripping story-telling. From the early settlers in Mesopotamia to the wonders of Egypt and Rome and from the French Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, viewers are within history; shoulder to shoulder with the people who have shaped the world as we know it today. A BBC/Discovery Channel/Open University Co-production. 8-part series, 50 minutes each.

Hosted by Antonio Mora, formerly of Good Morning America, and narrated by ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, Paths to Power—a custom-made educators’ version of the ABC News’ landmark retrospective The Century—encapsulates the broad issues and events that are essential to a deep understanding of the 20th century. This 12-part series has been designed with teacher input to closely correlate with the textbooks commonly used in the American history curriculum today. 12-part series, 29-63 minutes each.

This ten-part series examines religion from spiritual, historical, social, and political viewpoints. From the roots of various belief systems to New Age religious practices, each program outlines a particular aspect of humankind’s quest for spiritual fulfillment.