The Great Trials of World History and the Lessons They Teach Us

Overview

Join an award-winning law professor for an investigation into the great legal battles that have shaped the course of world history. Understanding these trials is vital for comprehending the past, as they offer key insights into ongoing issues such as freedom of speech, the death penalty, religious freedom, and the very essence of equality.

In this comprehensive series of 24 lectures, Professor Linder examines significant legal cases from around the globe and across the centuries. From Socrates in ancient Athens to the Nuremberg Trials and the O.J. Simpson case, you’ll discover what these trials reveal about humanity and civilization.

With a focus on the evolution of law and justice, this course delves into historical trials and their implications, helping you understand the complex interplay between law and society.

Video Lessons

01: The Trial of Socrates

Explore Socrates’s trial in ancient Athens and his defense of seeking truth in 399 B.C.

Length: 36 min

02: The Trial of Gaius Verres

Analyze Cicero’s prosecution of Verres and the corruption in Roman governance.

Length: 31 min

03: Three Medieval Trials

Investigate three unusual trials from the Middle Ages, highlighting beliefs about justice.

Length: 31 min

04: The Trial of Sir Thomas More

Examine the trial of Sir Thomas More, who stood against King Henry VIII’s authority.

Length: 28 min

05: The Trial of Giordano Bruno

Explore the profound consequences of Bruno’s trial and execution on philosophical discourse.

Length: 29 min

06: The Salem Witchcraft Trials

Understand the dangers of rushing to judgment through the lens of the Salem witch trials.

Length: 32 min

07: The Boston Massacre Trials

Discuss the trials that surrounded the Boston Massacre and their impact on American sentiment.

Length: 29 min

08: The Aaron Burr Conspiracy Trial

Investigate Aaron Burr’s conspiracy trial and the implications for the rule of law.

Length: 31 min

09: The Amistad Trials

Uncover the significance of the Amistad trials in the context of slavery and human rights.

Length: 29 min

10: The Dakota Conflict Trials

Analyze the largest mass execution in U.S. history resulting from the Dakota Conflict.

Length: 31 min

11: The Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy Trial

Dive into the conspirators’ trial following Lincoln’s assassination and its historical context.

Length: 31 min

12: The Trial of Louis Riel

Explore the trials of Louis Riel and their implications for Canadian politics and identity.

Length: 32 min

13: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde

Learn about the trials that defined Oscar Wilde’s life and their cultural repercussions.

Length: 31 min

14: The Trial of Sheriff Joseph Shipp

Examine the implications of Sheriff Joseph Shipp’s trial on lynching and the law.

Length: 31 min

15: The Leopold and Loeb Trial

Investigate the sensational trial of two affluent teens and its implications for capital punishment.

Length: 30 min

16: The Scopes Monkey Trial

Delve into the famous trial that pitted evolution against creationism in American society.

Length: 31 min

17: The Trials of the “Scottsboro Boys”

Understand the significance of the Scottsboro trials in highlighting racial injustice.

Length: 33 min

18: The Nuremberg Trials

Explore the profound implications of the Nuremberg Trials in defining war crimes and justice.

Length: 32 min

19: The Alger Hiss Trial

Learn how the Alger Hiss trial influenced American politics and perceptions of communism.

Length: 31 min

20: The Rivonia (Nelson Mandela) Trial

Examine how the Rivonia Trial shaped the future of South Africa and anti-apartheid movements.

Length: 31 min

21: The Mississippi Burning Trial

Investigate the impact of the Mississippi Burning trial on civil rights and societal change.

Length: 31 min

22: The Trial of the Chicago Eight

Discuss the political implications of the trial of the Chicago Eight during the 1968 Democratic Convention.

Length: 32 min

23: The McMartin Preschool Abuse Trial

Explore the longest criminal trial in American history and its societal implications.

Length: 32 min

24: The O. J. Simpson Trial

Analyze the trial of O.J. Simpson and its effects on race, media, and American culture.

Length: 34 min