The Light Ages

The Surprising Story of Medieval Science

By: Seb Falk

Narrated by: Seb Falk

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

An illuminating guide to the scientific and technological achievements of the Middle Ages through the life of a crusading astronomer-monk.

Soaring Gothic cathedrals, violent crusades, the Black Death: These are the dramatic forces that shaped the medieval era. But the so-called Dark Ages also gave us the first universities, eyeglasses, and mechanical clocks. As medieval thinkers sought to understand the world around them, from the passing of the seasons to the stars in the sky, they came to develop a vibrant scientific culture.

In The Light Ages, Cambridge science historian Seb Falk takes us on a tour of medieval science through the eyes of one 14th-century monk, John of Westwyk. Born in a rural manor, educated in England's grandest monastery, and then exiled to a clifftop priory, Westwyk was an intrepid crusader, inventor, and astrologer. From multiplying Roman numerals to navigating by the stars, curing disease, and telling time with an ancient astrolabe, we learn emerging science alongside Westwyk and travel with him through the length and breadth of England and beyond its shores. On our way, we encounter a remarkable cast of characters: the clock-building English abbot with leprosy, the French craftsman-turned-spy, and the Persian polymath who founded the world's most advanced observatory.

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

©2020 Seb Falk (P)2020 Tantor

Especially the High and Late Light Ages

Decades ago, one of my history profs was emphatic about all the lights that were turning on during the early middle ages (aka "dark ages"). He went on and on about people far from Athens and Rome, who had never heard of an Athenian Greek play or a Roman gladiatorial combat, were moving their own cultures forward in so many ways. Falk's presentation picks up on this theme, but focuses mostly on the latter half of the middle ages. He points out what the "luminaries" of the renaissance and industrial revolution missed: the giants that they were standing on were medieval monks and Arabic voices in conversation. I read this book as background for literary history and our modern fascination with magic, but this book will be especially meaningful anyone teaching mathematics or astronomy.

Good story badly told

Although the narrator is free from a strong accent he is difficult to listen to because of his jerky narration. He reads as if the book was written in phrases with a few complete sentences and his volume falls to the almost inaudible at times. I was anxious to learn from this book but had to struggle to complete even the second chapter. A narrator need not be an actor trying to make the telling more interesting when the author has already done than with excellent authorship.

Lovely subject, heavy on astronomy.

Detailed and interesting, warm and likable. These monks and astronomers were smart cookies. The author loves the subject and does a terrific job of dispelling the myth that people in the "medieval" world were just dirty, illiterate flat-earthers. My only criticism is that there's a huge amount of astronomy and geometry discussed throughout the book. Some listeners may find that tiresome. That said, I'm grateful for the thoughtful dive into the subject that this book provides.

Wonderful introduction to “medieval” science

This book was really eye opening. I thoroughly enjoyed the authors writing style. I also enjoyed his performance as the narrator. His passion for the subject is evident in his presentation which makes listening all the better. I hope he will continue to author works that present the forgotten history of science.

Thought provoking

I wouldn’t really believe that before the enlightenment there was much going on in science, but this book will reveal to you all the amazing works and efforts many people was putting into it. Really amazing.

Too Technical For Me But Maybe Not You

I loved hearing about the monks. I was fascinated to hear about their daily lives and their intellectual pursuits. The author makes a very interesting point that folks were doing science back then, it’s just that because they just did it to understand God’s plan better we don’t count it as science. Unfortunately the level of technical detail is so intense I couldn’t finish the book. If you are “into” science instruments and math and how astronomical features are measured and how calendars are constructed you will love it. But I couldn’t follow it after the first few basics.

Lots of fluff, but still interesting

The book contains lots of useful information, but it's very clear the author added lots of fluff to meet publisher word requirements. It is nice that the author was the one who narrated the book, as his personality comes through more clearly. He has a sexy voice, especially when he starts reading old English.

The last 2 hours felt like they dragged on.

Interesting and informative but not convincing

Lots of interesting material more pre to early Renaissance than medieval and much taken from Islamic world.

Informative

While some of the math was beyond me, I found the bulk of the narrative to be very informative. It certainly gave me a different perspective on a time period that my history teachers tended to gloss over in favor of more “exciting” eras.

Fascinating exploration of medieval science

As a medievalist, I wanted to stand up and cheer as I listened to _The Light Years’_ epilogue. Seb Falk makes a brilliantly compelling argument that the use of “medieval” as a synonym for “backward,” “stupid,” or worse (I’m looking at you, Quentin Tarantino) not only misrepresents the reality of medieval science, but also ignores the enormous debt modern scientists owe to techniques, instruments, and theories developed in the Middle Ages. Falk paints a portrait of medieval science as a global enterprise, in which ideas and texts circulated around the world, paying particular attention to the debts owed by European scientists to Muslim scholars (and showing how various Muslim men of science were honored in Western texts and images).The scientific theories and techniques that Falk describes are challenging, but he includes many helpful illustrations as well as a website with added details. The portrait he paints of the daily lives of monastic scientists is vividly rendered, making the Middle Ages come to life in a fascinating way. This book would be an excellent teaching text for courses or units on the History of Science, astronomy and astrology, or Chaucer’s _Treatise on the Astrolabe_, to which Falk brings a great deal of clarity. Falk is also an excellent narrator; it’s a pleasure to listen to him. Overall, a terrific book!