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The Medieval World

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The Medieval World

By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
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About this listen

Far from being a time of darkness, the Middle Ages was an essential period in the grand narrative of Western history. But what was it like to actually live in those extraordinary times? Now you can find out.

These 36 lectures provide a different perspective on the society and culture of the Middle Ages: one that entrenches you in the daily human experience of living during this underappreciated era. Drawing on history, literature, the arts, technology, and science, these lectures will deepen the way you understand not only the Middle Ages but everything that came afterward: from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment to your own world.

Filled with amazing insights, this series brings you closer than ever before to life as it was lived and felt. You'll meet the likes of William Caxton, England's first printer who not only printed and distributed a variety of works but also often had to translate them himself; learn about Hugh of Payns and the role of his Knights Templar - organized for the protection of pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem - in the creation of the first modern bank; see how communities dealt with marriage in a time when the church had not yet drawn this institution into its orbit; and much more.

Rich with information and period detail (including revealing examples of medieval literature from the English, French, Norse, Icelandic, and Italian worlds), these lectures will dramatically increase your understanding of how lives in the Middle Ages were really lived.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses
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What listeners say about The Medieval World

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Armstrong does it again!

My favourite lecturer in the world does it again. Dr Dorsey Armstrong is such a fabulous teacher of medieval history. Thank you!!

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A "Great Course" indeed

A well-constructed and perfectly paced course, with an excellent lecturer. As a wide-ranging introduction to the mediæval world, this hits all the right buttons. Very enjoyable!

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1 person found this helpful

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Best of the Great Courses

I've purchased about half a dozen of "The Great Courses" series so far, and this has a good lead in quality on the rest. Really beautifully put together.

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Utterly Spellbinding...

I'll admit I'd had this title on my Wish List for some time, but somehow I always opted for something else when time came to choose my next listening experience. Listening to these lectures now, I keep thinking to myself, "Why did I wait so long?"

This series of lectures are nothing short of astounding; informative, clear, thorough and all delivered expertly by the highly-engaging Prof Armstrong, who keeps the listener interested and involved at every turn. I've already repeated certain sections as they are so interesting. I'm about 3/4 of the way through as I write this, and already looking forward to my commute home so I can pull on my headphones and re-immerse myself in this fascinating subject.

Forget the image you may have of the medieval world, and discover a different view of an age that has been much-maligned by history books and Hollywood alike.

Very highly recommended

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Great course

I really enjoyed this course. The metrical was explained well and it was well paced.

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refreshing

i listened to the modern scholar course of the same name by Mr Madden, which are excellent.

I found this series of lectures by Dorsey Armstrong to be treating the same subject in a very different way.

she is obviously very passionate about her subject, I really enjoyed listening to her reading old poetry and old songs, she brought the period to life in a new and vivid way for me.

a couple of minor criticism I feel like mentioning thought:

"mendicant" doesn't mean "wanderer", as she suggest in the course about the mendicant orders, but "beggars"

and the course about life in a noble household, which she does expressly refer to as "those who fight", doesn't contain any information at all on the fighting aspect of their lives.





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Excellent

Covers just about everything, not just the traditional historical dates. Loved it and have listened to it more than once!

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The Past is another country

What did you like most about The Medieval World?

It was genuinely enlightening and interesting. A short guided tour into a world with so much different but so many similarities.

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slightly repetative, each lecture standalone.

the series gets a bit repetative bc Dorsey summarises and glosses so much. it's brilliant tho, really, and gives a great overview.

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A well navigated trip through the Middle Ages

Easy to follow, with lots of interesting details this takes us through a sort of familiar story and fleshes it out without drowning the listener in too much detail. Well worth the journey.

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