What appealed to me most about Young Indy is strangely what turned many people off: the historic context.
I've always been interested in history, but hated it in school because the way it was presented made it seem so dull. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, on the other hand, took historic events and characters and made them come alive.
I remember watching the premier movie, Curse of the Jackal. During commercial breaks I ran down to the basement where my parents kept the encylopedia set and grabbed a few volumes to look up things that had been mentioned. Then during the next commercial I would run down and grab a few more.
I had heard of Howard Carter, Pancho Villa, John Pershing, and George Patton, but I didn't really know much about them. Now I do.
Because of Young Indy, I've read Ernest Hemingway and other authors I never would have. I know more about the Mexican Revolution and the Irish Revolution. I've learned about World War I, and how its resolution led directly to World War II. I credit Young Indy (in part) for making me a more well-rounded person.