The Medieval World

By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong

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

A good start

Any additional comments?

While I found this book a bit of a disappointment, that is only because of the amount of study I have given this period over my life time. For someone wishing to begin a study of the Medieval period this lecture series is a good start. Her lectures are well organized, clear and easy to follow. Even better, the information is accurate. Great care is taken to caution the modern listener from trying to apply modern concepts of morality and thought onto the Medieval world.
Most enjoyable for me was to hear early English actually spoken by someone who has taken the time to learn this dead language.
What I missed most in this series was a bibliography of source material and list of suggested reading. If a pdf file with this information was included, I would give this five stars.

A Good Overview of the Medieval World

Would you consider the audio edition of The Medieval World to be better than the print version?

Have not read the printed version - nor would I. I imagine this could be a very dry subject unless told in an entertaining way, which Professor Dorsey does well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Medieval World?

I enjoyed the discussion about Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and all the chapters about the daily life of people in the medieval world.

Any additional comments?

FiIrstly, I enjoyed and learned from the book. However, I was disappointed to find that the history and contribution of the Jews during this period was almost entirely overlooked except with reference to the frequent violent pogroms against them. While the medieval period was in some senses a dark period of history, for the Jews it was a Golden Age, particularly in Spain before the Inquisition. In the discussion of the development of medicine, no mention was even made of the contributions of Maimonides and in the discussion of the development of the silk trade, nothing was said about the Italian Jews, who certainly contributed to this advancement. Nor was there mention of the Jewish role played in trade. Finally, while the Jews were not part of the Feudal system in Europe, they most certainly lived in these countries, enjoying a unique social mobility and they provided significant services to the community, notably to the Nobility. In short, their valuable contribution to this history, is completely overlooked and I can't understand why.On a different point entirely, it would be helpful a) if the chapter headings were given in the list of chapters provided and also if important names were written because it was usually not possible to discern exactly the name of the historical figures alluded to. In itself and notwithstanding, it is a helpful and informative text, well read.

Engaging intro to Middle Ages

While I prefer some of the other history Great Courses lecturers, I thought this was one of my favorite of this professor's offerings. A warning though - this is very much of an intro and is at times presented topically as opposed to chronologically. If you have listened to or read other medieval history, it may seem a bit basic.

This would be excellent for a homeschooling student, perhaps coupled with the Daileader three part Great Courses series if more in depth coverage is desired. I also greatly enjoyed Harl's lectures on the Crusades and the Vikings, if someone is looking for more in depth coverage on those topics.

The Dark Ages become Vibrant

I’m a “Great Courses” fan. I’ve learned basic codes and secret writing from Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius’ "Espionage and Covert Operations: A Global History" (2011). I’ve walked through the Sahara and waded on the banks of the Nile with Bob Brier in "The History of Ancient Egypt" (2013). Now, I’ve lived through what was far from The Dark Ages with Dorsey Armstrong in “The Medieval World” (2009).

I was fascinated by the chapters on the spread of Christianity and monasticism. Later in the course, theres a chapter on how Islam influenced the medieval world and the Byzantine Empire. A lot of history courses taught to Westerners give short shrift to Muslims. This one does not. There’s also a really neat chapter on the Viking invasion. I come from a long but undistinguished line of Swedes. I like to imagine that somewhere, centuries ago, my great-great-great x6 grandparents got restless and maybe adventurous and took over known civilization for a century or two before they started making krumkake and fermenting mass quantities of lutefisk.

This course comes with a 144-page PDF download. It’s not a transcript of the lectures - it’s kind of an abridged but illustrated course textbook, complete with study questions. It’s pretty cool, but I become historical obsolete just using that term. “Sick” might be the 21st century term for so great anyone might like it.

The lecture on the Norman Invasion and its record in the Bayeux Tapestry - that was pretty neat. I’d like to see that some day. There are lectures on daily life in medieval cities, agrarian villages, and of course, royalty. There’s also my favorite medieval topic: plague. It’s just one chapter, half an hour, but for anyone who wants to know more, there is Dorsey Armstrong, PhD’s The Great Courses “The Black Death: The World’s Most Devastating Plague” (2016). That’s a 5 Star listen.

Dorsey Armstrong is my favorite Great Courses instructor. I’m disappointed there’s only one more course of hers to listen to.

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Just the right level of detail

What did you love best about The Medieval World?

The level of depth of the content. Not too much, not too little. Goldilocks!

What did you like best about this story?

It was interesting all the way through, even the art lecture or two, which I thought I'd be bored by. Also I particularly liked hearing about the Vikings in the same month a nat geo article arrived on the subject!

What about Professor Dorsey Armstrong’s performance did you like?

Her voice is pleasant, and she keeps it interesting by use of tone modulation, which is helped by her obvious natural enthusiasm in the subject, as well as a conversational manner of delivery. Well done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Any additional comments?

no

Medieval life. Not medieval fiction.

Some things we take for granted, especially history. Through promotional media or solid fiction, general knowledge of history is gradually altered or manipulated to create a better story in order to gather and keep the attention of an audience. Generations later people begin to assume things about what they know about history and the farther back you got the more blurred the facts seem.

That's why lectures like this are important. Actual history based off actual facts being researched by actual historians goes a long way to keeping the facts fresh. "The Medieval World" was interesting, informative and well presented. This lecture by Professor Dorsey Armstrong will challenge what you thought you knew about how people lived their daily lives back then. Totally worth the credit.

Very Enjoyable

comprehensive and easy to follow. Not once was I confused of felt that I had missed something. particularly enjoyed political events involving the nobility and how the outcomes affected the pesants

Recommend

Fascinating. I learned so much from this course. I liked the narrator who told more of a story than a lecture of facts.

Great book

The book is very informative and makes great use of the English language. Very recommended.

Great information and was entertaining

I enjoyed this book it was beyond my expectations. It had a good flow and speed