Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals: 36 Great Women Before 1400

De: Joyce E. Salisbury, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Joyce E. Salisbury

Throughout history, women have played integral roles in family, society, religion, government, war - in short, in all aspects of human civilization. Powerful women have shaped laws, led rebellions, and played key roles in dynastic struggles. Some were caught up in forces beyond their control, while others manipulated and murdered their way to the top. However, unearthing their stories from the historical record has been a challenge, with the ordinary difficulties of preserving information across the generations increased by centuries of historical bias and gendered expectations. Women, when they were mentioned at all, often filled the role of virtuous maiden, self-effacing mother, or seductive villain. Imagine what you are missing when only half the story is being told.

In Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals: 36 Great Women Before 1400, taught by Professor Emerita of Humanistic Studies Joyce E. Salisbury, you will experience another side of history, one that has often been overlooked. In these 36 lectures, women step out from the footnotes and sidebars of traditional history and into the spotlight, illuminating the dark corners of the pre-modern world along the way. From thwarted daughters and ambitious wives to fearless revolutionaries and brilliant philosophers, you will see how women have played diverse roles throughout history and why their influence is so vital to a fuller understanding of the world we live in today. Beginning at the start of the Roman Empire and carrying you through to the end of the Middle Ages, Professor Salisbury will introduce you to dozens of influential women from all across the globe.

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

©2019 The Great Courses (P)2019 The Teaching Company, LLC

Totally engrossing

I learned so much in this fascinating book of lectures about women, many of whom I knew nothing about. Joyce brought them to life!

“Anonymous was a Woman” - no longer

For generations, history books show cultures created and molded almost exclusively by men. Here, the professor elucidates the lives of pre-Renaissance women who changed the world. Certainly there are more women who were influential, and perhaps the professor will write a sequel.

Excellent

Really enjoyed this. Very well researched and communicated in almost novel like form. I recommend!

Interesting Perspective of History

Although I'm generally not interested in history, I enjoyed this audiobook. It's history from a different perspective (36 great women before 1400), so it wasn't the usual war and conquest history I remembered from high school. It's also convenient that each chapter is a bite-size amount of information.

A good course which could be better

The author has a weird habit of referring to all civs which happen to be Muslim (Ottomans, Ummayads, Abbasids, Seljuks) as "the Muslims" she does not do this with Christian, Buddhist, or Confucian civs

Good course but more Eurocentric than I would have liked.

Excellent Course

The course delivers on its promise. We’re guided through the lives of 36 women in history, which provides the lens to understand the historical period each woman lived in. Ignore the 1-star reviews. I’ve listed to well over 30 Great Courses and this is a welcome addition to my collection.

Wonderful!!!

I have been entertained.
I have learned.
So often the focus is only on “the villain” or the “heroic” and not the full spectrum; this series of lectures looks at women of all types, from across the world and they are shown against the backdrop of the time and history in which they lived - and shown how they influenced those around them, and on into the modern age.
Brilliant lectures, and instructor!

Fascinating

I learned so much - both about better known historical figures and the lesser known women featured in this series. I would love to listen to a lecture series of courageous women from 1400 to now.

Interesting stories, great instructor!

I enjoyed hearing about women across ancient times who were able to impact not just their own lives but our lives too.

Good but not Great

This book was interesting but relied a lot on supposition - "We can imagine...", "It's easy to believe..."
The author is clearly passionate about her subject but there are only so many times that a woman can be described as "remarkable" and her deeds "astonishing."
I didn't dislike the work and found myself looking up some additional history on the women discussed but I also found myself rolling my eyes at some hyperbolic descriptions of the often thinly documented accounts of some of their accomplishments.