London: A Short History of the Greatest City in the Western World

Overview

Throughout its vast and riveting history, London played a critical role in shaping many of the most important political, social, cultural, and economic institutions and systems that you live with today.

No city has had as powerful and as enduring an impact on Western civilization as London. But what made the city the perfect environment for so many great developments? How did London endure the sweeping historical revolutions and disasters without crumbling? Find the answers to these questions and more in these 24 fascinating lectures.

Professor Robert Bucholz of Loyola University Chicago takes you through the history of this magnificent metropolis, from its birth as an ancient Roman outpost to its current status as a global village. You’ll study the many epic chapters in British and world history—including the English Renaissance, the turmoil of the English civil war, and the epic conflicts of World Wars I and II—through the lens of this amazing capital.

What makes the course unique is that it takes you deep into the streets of London during formative periods in its history. Professor Bucholz continuously emphasizes the importance of understanding and experiencing the sights and sounds of London as it was lived by its residents. You’ll come to know what daily life was like in historical London, learning the secret histories behind places such as Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and London Bridge.

This unforgettable look at an unforgettable city will undoubtedly delight and surprise you. By the final lecture, you’ll come to realize just what Samuel Johnson meant when he famously declared, “there is in London, all that life can afford.”

Video Lectures

Part 1: Ancient and Medieval London

1. There’s No Place like London (32 min)
   This introductory lecture gives you a brief overview of London, introduces you to several overarching themes—including London’s growth, diversity, and resilience—and shows you why this magnificent metropolis is the greatest city in the Western world.
2. The Rise and Fall of Roman Londinium (30 min)
   Explore the early centuries of London’s history, from its foundation in 60 C.E. as Londinium—the largest Roman settlement in Britain—to its eventual decline and abandonment at the end of the 4th century C.E.
3. Medieval London’s Thousand-Year Climb (30 min)
   How did London revive itself and come to play a prominent part in early British history? Discover the important roles played by the Christian church, Viking scourges, and leaders such as Alfred the Great.
4. Economic Life in Chaucer’s London (30 min)
   Walk the streets of medieval London as it was lived and experienced by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, including the Tower of London, the docks, and the markets on East Cheap.
5. Politics and Religion in Chaucer’s London (30 min)
   Continue touring 14th-century London by exploring Westminster Abbey, the Guildhall, and the splendor of old St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Part 2: Tudor and Stuart London

6. London Embraces the Early Tudors (31 min)
   Investigate the impact of the Tudor dynasty on London, including the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, and Mary I, and the religious turmoil of the Protestant Reformation.
7. Elizabeth I and London as a Stage (30 min)
   Delve into Queen Elizabeth’s reign and how she used London as a stage to display the rich pageantry of the Tudor monarchy.
8. Life in Shakespeare’s London—East (30 min)
   Get an in-depth look at London through the eyes of William Shakespeare, touring the East End, the Royal Exchange, and Bridewell Prison.
9. Life in Shakespeare’s London—West (30 min)
   Continue exploring Shakespearean London, including St. James’s Park, Westminster Hall, and the experience of attending a play at the Rose Theatre.
10. London Rejects the Early Stuarts (31 min)
    Explore London life between 1603 and 1660, focusing on population growth, crime, religious struggles, and the breakdown of royal authority.