The Western Story

Episode 6 The Genres of Western Learning Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson The Greeks, as the saying goes, had a word for it – and rules to go with it. Classical authors who worked within a given literary genre always followed those rules, which governed their vocabulary, meter, style, form, content and length. The modern world has rejected these rules in the name of freedom, but this has not served so much to free the author as to confuse him, and his audience too.

Episode 5 The Rise of Islam and its Wars with Europe Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson The current tensions between Muslims and the West comprise simply the latest chapter in a long story. Islam spread with extraordinary speed during the first century of its existence, at Christianity’s expense. Later, Islam reached its apogee when the Ottoman sultans pushed their armies to the gates of Vienna. But the tide turned when Christianity came to terms with rationalism, while Islam turned back to fundamentalism when challenged by progress and change.

Episode 4 The Synthesis of Judaism, Christianity and Classical Learning Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson Why did Western civilization survive the fall of Rome? The answer, in part, is that Rome had become Christianized, thus infusing Western civilization with a Judeo-Christian spirituality that appealed to the Northern European “barbarians.” In embracing Christianity, the barbarians embraced Rome too, even as they destroyed its empire. The synthesis with Judaism and Christianity assured the West’s survival.

Episode 3 Can Democracy Be Dangerous? Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson The Greeks invented democracy, but they never perfected the formula. Unrestrained democracy leads to mob rule, so the Romans instituted a republic with checks and balances. But placing too many checks on democracy leads to oligarchy and tyranny. Modern-day Americans want equality and liberty, but can we have both in equal measure? We’re still tinkering with the formula, trying to get it right. 🚨 HELP US MEET OUR FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE! ANY DONATION IS A STEP TOWARDS UNLOCKING $250,000! Please consider contributing at this link https://give.cornerstone.cc/americanfreedomalliance

Episode 2: Classical Warfare And the Birth of Western Military Dynamism Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson How was the West able to conquer the world, and how does it manage to maintain its military edge even today? Part of the answer can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans, whose military innovations comprise a formidable legacy that separates today’s Western armies from their less-lethal adversaries.

Episode 1: Why Read Classical Literature Hosted by Victor Davis Hanson Why bother to read things written 2,500 years ago? Because human nature has not changed, and so the classical authors still have much to teach us. In fact, thinkers like Homer and Socrates often have better answers to our problems than those provided by modern pundits. The classical authors were not distracted by Twitter and Facebook or hobbled by political correctness; they give it to us straight. 🚨 HELP US MEET OUR FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE! ANY DONATION IS A STEP TOWARDS UNLOCKING $250,000! Please consider contributing on our website