This series does an excellent job in summarizing an important part of human history. Although I lived through much of the history talked about in this series (I was born in 1963), as an apolitical American citizen, busy in my own life, I did not at the time take much of what is described in this series. Probably the key set of information that I was unaware of were the details related to the breakup of the Soviet Union (Perhaps better described as the Russian empire). This series gives us perspective on what at least some Russian leaders (Vladimir Putin front and center) are trying to achieve: restoring the former glory of the USSR.