The World’s Most Fascinating Geologic Events - Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses Audiobook

Written by Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses
Read by Michael E. Wysession
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
Release date: 09-15-26

The Earth is a restless planet. Volcanoes explode, continents drift, oceans rise and fall, and the ground beneath our feet can shake without warning. For most of human history, these forces felt like the wrath of gods or random chaos. Today, we understand them as dynamic processes that have shaped the story of humanity, from where our civilizations developed to the migrations driven by famine and plague.

The World’s Most Fascinating Geologic Events takes you on a journey around the world and across time to explore the volcanic and seismic activity, dramatic shifts in climate, and superstorms that have inspired terror and awe over thousands of years. Taught by esteemed Professor Michael E. Wysession at Washington University in St. Louis, these 24 captivating lectures reveal the inseparable links between geologic phenomena and human affairs.

Today, thanks to advancements in the science of geology coupled with history, anthropology, and archaeology, we can take a fresh look at some of the most riveting natural events ever recorded. For example, you will:

· Discover how one Indonesian volcano triggered mass migrations that accelerated America’s westward expansion.

· Learn about Japan’s location at the intersection of four tectonic plates in the “Ring of Fire.”

· Explore how subtle shifts in atmospheric currents and monsoons along the Nile River contributed to the prosperity of Rome.

· Trace the links between a volcanic eruption in Iceland, soaring bread prices, and the French Revolution.

Each lecture offers a unique case study on topics ranging from the collisions that formed the moon to the so-called Anthropocene, from the great flood that may have inspired the Epic of Gilgamesh to the destruction wrought by El Niño, and from the Great San Francisco Earthquake to the infamous hurricane of Galveston, Texas.

In addition to unraveling the science of these centuries-long geologic phenomena, Professor Wysession makes dazzling connections between these events and the human impact, from famines and pandemics to mass migrations and the rise and fall of civilizations. Packed with scientific insights and vivid storytelling, this course is a grand tour of humanity’s story on our dynamic planet.