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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Organising an Empire: The Assyrian Way by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)

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748 ratings

About the Course

Discover the mighty kingdom of Assyria, which came to be the world’s first great empire three thousand years ago. From the 9th to the 7th centuries BC, during the imperial phase of Assyria’s long history, modern day northern Iraq was the central region of a state reaching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, and incorporating what is now Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as half of Israel, and wide parts of south-eastern Turkey, and Western Iran. In its geographical extent, this state was unprecedentedly large, and the distinct geography of the Middle East, with deserts and high mountain ranges, posed challenges to communication and cohesion. What were the mechanisms that kept the Empire running? This course explores the methods the Assyrian government employed to ensure unity and maintain loyalty across vast distances, using traditional as well as innovative strategies. Some of these imperial techniques have marked parallels in the ways modern multi-national corporations are operating, others will strike you as profoundly alien. This course focusses on how the Assyrians organised their empire by analysing key aspects, namely: · The CEO – the king, a religious, political and military leader, who is charged to govern by his master, the god Assur; · Home Office – the royal palace in the central region and the royal court that form the administrative centre of the state; · The Regional Managers – the governors and client-rulers to whom local power is delegated; · Human Resources – the Empire’s people are its most precious assets, its consumers and its key product, as the goal of the imperial project was to create “Assyrians”; an approach with lasting repercussions that still reverberate in the Middle East today; and finally · The Fruits of Empire – it takes a lot of effort, so what are the rewards? When we explore these topics we will contextualise them with information about the lives led by ordinary Assyrian families. Taking this course will provide you with an overview of the political, social, religious, and military history of the world’s first superpower. It will give you insight into the geography and climatic conditions of the Middle East and contribute to your understanding of the opportunities and challenges of that region. It will present you with a vision of the Middle East at a time when its political and religious structures were very different from today....

Top reviews

SS

Jan 15, 2021

This was my first MOOC and I fully enjoyed every aspect. The knowledge level of the instructors was evident as was their commitment to their students and the varied formats were consistently engaging.

LF

Jan 27, 2021

The variety of presentations of a vast amount of knowledge made it engaging. Dr. Radner herself was engaging! The course provided a deep look into a civilization that is a bedrock to the modern world.

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126 - 150 of 301 Reviews for Organising an Empire: The Assyrian Way

By angelaballas

Sep 11, 2022

very interesting, professionally done. Prof. Karen Radner loves what she is doing and one can feel that throughout the course. Excellent!!!

By Louis M

Mar 17, 2021

Great class! Great professor who really enjoys her subject, which shows.

Very interesting, engaging and well presented.

I really enjoyed it!

By Jan K

Aug 17, 2023

Excellent job by the whole team, and especially by Karen Radner . Such a display of deep competence. And such an inspiration to learn more.

By Ralph L

Apr 15, 2022

Very interesting way of learning and interacting, also for many other people, you only think, the Assyrians acted only as brutal warriors.

By Fan C

Dec 5, 2018

I have watched the module 1, and I have gotten an impressive view to the Assyrian Empire through Professor Karan and her wonderful lectures

By Tracey G

Feb 15, 2021

Fantastic course. Pitched perfect to someone who had no previous knowledge of the Assyrian empire. Iam hooked and now want to know more!!

By Vadim

Feb 6, 2021

Very interesting topic. Nicely presented. I really liked meaningful and frequent quizzes which keep one engaged in the course. Thank you!

By Mahmoud Z

Mar 3, 2023

Amazing, I joined many other courses about History, and the way of explaining the ideas in this one was the best thank you very much

By Zachary P S

Nov 30, 2020

I really enjoyed how the course material was layered adding to the understanding and knowledge retention of the topics and concepts.

By RICHARD J Y

Jun 23, 2022

Enjoyed course. Informative, well presented, & filled in the blanks about ancient & biblical history. need more courses like this.

By Rob M

May 14, 2018

An excellent course. If you have an interest in the Ancient World, politics or sociology, then this is a definite course for you.

By Keith P

Jul 24, 2020

The breadth of the course and the presentation made this a fascinating introduction to a subject that I knew nothing about.

By Veronica A

Jan 23, 2024

Great explanations all across the course! I am eager to go to the museum and see the remains from the Palace of Sargon II.

By Jen P

Nov 6, 2019

Really good structure with some testing quizzes; excellent lecturers; interesting material well-explained and presented.

By Timothy H

Aug 26, 2022

brilliant course absolutely fascinating, makes me want to learn more about ancient Mesopotamia. thanks to Karen Radner.

By David K

Dec 27, 2021

Thank you for a very instructive and interesting course, and one in which you managed to cram in so much information.

By Mónica L M

Mar 1, 2022

Un curso muy buen estructurado y muy interesante. Me proporcionó conocimiento nuevo y significativo. Muchas gracias.

By Stephanie C

Jan 21, 2021

Fun course with a nice depth and granularity of information presented in a variety of interesting and engaging ways!

By JOHN Q

Jan 15, 2018

Fascinating course. Thanks so much for all the folks who worked to organize and present this material! Dr Quincy

By Richie H

Dec 27, 2020

Excellent course with a variety of presentation methods as well as addition readings and listenings to engage with.

By Nadeen A A

Nov 3, 2020

Exquisite! Lovely course that made me want to delve even deeper into the world of the ancient empires of the past!

By Esperanza R M

Oct 20, 2020

I really LOVE how professor Radner teaches. I have learned a lot with this course, and also in a enterteining way!

By Alejandro C V

Oct 23, 2023

It is fun to learn about our ancestors and this course (though a little bit long) describes everything very well…

By Kevin M M

Jun 23, 2023

One of the best, and most interesting classes available, on the Ancient Assyrians, and their fascinating culture.

By Benedict S

Apr 29, 2020

Sehr informativ und obwohl ich doch schon einige Bücher über Assyrien gelesen habe, war auch einiges Neues dabei!