Rise and Fall of the Borgias

De: William Landon, The Great Courses

Narrado por: William Landon

Since its rise to the highest ranks of power in Renaissance Europe, the Borgia family has developed a scandalous reputation. While they were indeed ostentatious, calculating, worldly, cruel—and even, occasionally, murderous—listeners may be surprised to find that the Borgias were not terribly different from other powerful and ambitious families of their day. So why has history set them apart as one of the most corrupt and reviled families in history?

In the Rise and Fall of the Borgias, listeners will spend 10 revealing lectures untangling the web of rumors, speculation, and historical embellishment from what is actually known about the infamous Roman family. With Dr. William Landon, listeners will explore the historical context that helped the Borgias make their fortune and better understand how they could be both magnanimous and ruthless, pious and morally suspect.

The story of the Borgias is rich with intrigue, even without the fictional enhancement it has received from the numerous films, novels, and television shows that have been created based on the family’s notoriety. Dr. Landon introduces listeners to the major players and lays bare their machinations to reach the highest offices of church and state. Were their exploits as salacious as listeners have been led to believe? Did they manipulate the papacy for their own gain? Are the rumors of incest, bribery, political assassinations, and other morally questionable behaviors true or the stuff of historical gossip?

As listeners explore these and other rumors surrounding the Borgias, they will pull back the curtain on the historian’s craft and see how the story of this Renaissance dynasty has been shaped over time and how new research and a healthy dose of skepticism has allowed us to get a little closer to the truth—without losing any of the drama.

©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

A brief history of the Borgias

A very compelling history of the Borgia family. It was a great listen and highly recommend it.

Excellent!

One of the most well researched biographies I've read on the Borgias. Well done!

Fascinating historical portrait

This really made me think about the roll of gossip and backbiting in history and today. History is always more complicated than it appears on the surface. These lectures on the Borgias were wonderful and entertaining, neither glossing over, nor glorifying this powerful family. Time and credit well spent.

Informative

I certainly didn't know the first thing about the Borgia family before listening to these lectures. I learned a great deal about the history, religion, and culture of their lives.

Not too shaggy, I meant shabby.

Good take on this family. I’m craving more information after completing this, which is fitting for a 5 hour course. Now I’ll have to purchase another audible experience…

A remarkable history of a maligned family

This series does not disappoint. It is excellent! I learned so much… a total blast.

Normally, I don’t bother to write reviews, but this book was just lovely. Here goes!

As background, over the past few years I have been voraciously streaming historical series on Amazon and Netflix. Among those, the two relatively recent series on the Borgia family were probably my favorite. But, they left me wondering, in real life, were the Borgia really that terrible? So when I saw this new Borgia series on Audible I took a chance and bought it.

Wow, I’m glad that I did. It’s all there – intrigue, murder, sex, religion and the Renaissance. But the narrator, who also authored this series, used good history and common sense to challenge some of the most scandalous things associated with the Borgia Pope and his family. I’m not going to give away the details. Check it out for yourself. You’ll be glad that you did.

BTW, the narrator’s voice is smooth and deep (check on the samples... you'll see what I mean). I loved it.

An excellent objective insight into the Borgias

An excellent objective insight into the Borgias history and the broader afflictions of the papacy at the time.

Solid audible original great course

By and large I have been disappointed in some of the audible originals because I have felt they are not up to the standards of the original GreatCourses. I think this one is an exception, and it is a solid installment. I wouldn’t pay as much as one of the longer courses on the renaissance, but I thought this was fascinating and well done by the professor.
The topic of the Borgia family was fascinating and not something I knew much about. Professor Landon did a great job evaluating the historical sources and explaining to the listener why he made the judgments he did.

Illuminating Borgia family biography

This is one of the best “courses” I have heard on this platform.

It admirably gives deep context to this notable family’s presence on the world stage.

By doing so, it shows the deep connections to significant historical events and powerful families and rulers.

I was hooked for all the lectures.

I remember trying to watch that series about the Borgias on Showtime years ago and couldn't get into it. I was bored and confused. This was the opposite. I was hooked on these lectures.

While this family was very, very, very corrupt (just like the other powerful families of the time) I like how Landon explained what was known to be a fact and what could be concluded to be a vicious rumor that their enemies started. Those rumors have become the Borgia family legacy we know today.

I was fascinated for 4 hours and I wonder if I had know this years ago if I would have liked the show better.