This episode of the U.S. Army's The Big Picture television show spotlights the political, economic, and social background that brought about the creation of a military force for the free Bonn Republic of West Germany. The creation of this German Army was an important plank in the founding platform of the NATO nations as the addition of this force unified the stand of these nations against aggression. This video shows the American Army officers training...

An Egyptian crocodile who catches the fancy of the esteemed Emperor Napoleon becomes an instant celebrity in a fancy fountain in Paris. But when someone in the kitchen starts singing the praises of crocodile pie, the resourceful and very hungry reptile escapes by sewer. Narrated by Tim Curry. AudioFile: "Tim Curry's narration is exemplary - a glorious example of the perfect melding of all parts of an audio recording. The musical background is...

In the period between the two World Wars, composers sought to express in music the jarring and discordant sense that civilization was giving way to barbarism. During the same time, jazz burst upon the international musical scene. Performers include the Moscow Classical Ballet Company, Maxim Shostakovich conducting his father's Symphony No. 7, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Sir Peter Pears and Galina Vishnevskaya in Britten's War Requiem, and an electric...

Shahrazad must hold the interest of her despotic husband the sultan with nightly tales, lest she lose her life in the morning. This wellspring of storytelling, circulating from medieval Persia to Egypt to Iraq, like its wily raconteur, lives on in many modern adaptations. Art, performance, and film images are employed to show the collection's broad span of influence. Featured speakers include Marin Alsop, musical director of the Baltimore Symphony...

In contrast to empiricist and rationalist traditions, existentialism proposes an order-less world, vaguely hostile, where people choose their character and goals, have an obligation only to be "authentic," and may only observe the truth (reality) in moments of anxiety. In this program, world-renowned author and professor Bryan Magee and University of California, Berkeley, philosopher Herbert Dreyfus trace the roots of existentialism from Edmund Husserl's...

The Geneva Summit brings Dwight D. Eisenhower together with representatives of Britain, France, and the Soviet Union in an effort to reduce international tensions. Adlai Stevenson makes another presidential bid, covered in this episode of Year by Year.

Children's encyclopedia about space, the Earth, nature, science, technology, history, culture and society, and entertainment.

There are many ladies in history who have left their mark. 100 Women Who Made History takes kids on a tour of the past and uncovers the stories of the women and girls who have shaped the modern world. From super scientists like Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin to clued-up creatives like Emily Dickinson and J.K. Rowling to leading ladies like Joan of Arc and Eleanor Roosevelt, profiles explore the lives of each woman in detail, and photography and...

Discover the astounding ancient architecture, the history of civilization, and the beauty of our planet in these Wonders of the World. Become an eyewitness to the fascinating architectural feats and natural treasures of the world in this picture-led reference guide that will take you on a visual tour of more than 50 wonders of the world. Children will be mesmerized by human-made landscapes such as the Statue of Liberty to record-breaking natural marvels...

A stunning nonfiction picture book about the global diversity hidden in the English language. Did you know that English words come from all over the world and that their meanings have changed along their journey? Our word 'zero' comes from the Arabic word for empty space. 'Companion' is from the Latin for with bread. With simple descriptions and dazzling, evocative and witty illustrations, this is a fascinating introduction to the rich history and...