-
1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $9.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Medieval World
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
very misleading
- By shane on 11-07-17
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
Years That Changed History: 1215
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is so important about the year 1215? There are some history buffs who may be able to tell you that 1215 is the year the Magna Carta was signed, but there are even fewer who know that King John of England’s acceptance of this charter was only one of four major, world-changing events of this significant year. In fact, the social, cultural, political, geographical, and religious shifts that occurred in this year alone had such a huge impact on the entire world, it warrants an entire course of study for anyone truly interested in the pivotal points of history....
-
-
1215 -- Before and Beyond
- By Carol on 08-16-19
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest takes you through the mists of time to the rugged landscape of the British Isles. Over the course of 24 sweeping lectures, Professor Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America surveys the forging of a great nation from a series of warring kingdoms and migrating peoples. From Germanic tribes to Viking invasions to Irish missionaries, she brings to life an underexamined time and place.
-
-
Outstanding course!
- By Prerit Pramod on 08-07-22
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome traces the breathtaking history from the empire’s foundation by Augustus to its Golden Age in the 2nd century CE through a series of ever-worsening crises until its ultimate disintegration. Taught by acclaimed Professor Gregory S. Aldrete of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, these 24 captivating lectures offer you the chance to experience this story like never before, incorporating the latest historical insights that challenge our previous notions of Rome’s decline.
-
-
Gregory S. Aldrete is a treasure
- By Laurel Tucker on 02-04-19
By: Gregory S. Aldrete, and others
-
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
-
-
Uneven and often annoying
- By tony mancill on 02-28-15
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
Napoleon
- A Life
- By: Andrew Roberts
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 32 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Roberts' Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon's thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation. At last we see him as he was: protean multitasker, decisive, surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his errant wife Josephine.
-
-
What a dynamo!
- By Tad Davis on 01-16-15
By: Andrew Roberts
-
The Medieval World
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
very misleading
- By shane on 11-07-17
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
Years That Changed History: 1215
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is so important about the year 1215? There are some history buffs who may be able to tell you that 1215 is the year the Magna Carta was signed, but there are even fewer who know that King John of England’s acceptance of this charter was only one of four major, world-changing events of this significant year. In fact, the social, cultural, political, geographical, and religious shifts that occurred in this year alone had such a huge impact on the entire world, it warrants an entire course of study for anyone truly interested in the pivotal points of history....
-
-
1215 -- Before and Beyond
- By Carol on 08-16-19
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest takes you through the mists of time to the rugged landscape of the British Isles. Over the course of 24 sweeping lectures, Professor Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America surveys the forging of a great nation from a series of warring kingdoms and migrating peoples. From Germanic tribes to Viking invasions to Irish missionaries, she brings to life an underexamined time and place.
-
-
Outstanding course!
- By Prerit Pramod on 08-07-22
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome traces the breathtaking history from the empire’s foundation by Augustus to its Golden Age in the 2nd century CE through a series of ever-worsening crises until its ultimate disintegration. Taught by acclaimed Professor Gregory S. Aldrete of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, these 24 captivating lectures offer you the chance to experience this story like never before, incorporating the latest historical insights that challenge our previous notions of Rome’s decline.
-
-
Gregory S. Aldrete is a treasure
- By Laurel Tucker on 02-04-19
By: Gregory S. Aldrete, and others
-
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
-
-
Uneven and often annoying
- By tony mancill on 02-28-15
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
Napoleon
- A Life
- By: Andrew Roberts
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 32 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andrew Roberts' Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon's thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation. At last we see him as he was: protean multitasker, decisive, surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his errant wife Josephine.
-
-
What a dynamo!
- By Tad Davis on 01-16-15
By: Andrew Roberts
-
Destiny Disrupted
- A History of the World through Islamic Eyes
- By: Tamim Ansary
- Narrated by: Tamim Ansary
- Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Until about 1800, the West and the Islamic realm were like two adjacent, parallel universes, each assuming itself to be the center of the world while ignoring the other. As Europeans colonized the globe, the two world histories intersected and the Western narrative drove the other one under. The West hardly noticed, but the Islamic world found the encounter profoundly disrupting.
-
-
Explains the clash between Islam and the West
- By Blake on 03-26-10
By: Tamim Ansary
-
The Iliad of Homer
- By: Elizabeth Vandiver, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Vandiver
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the
Iliad has enchanted readers from around the world. When you join Professor Vandiver for this lecture series on the Iliad, you'll come to understand what has enthralled and gripped so many people. Her compelling 12-lecture look at this literary masterpiece -whether it's the work of many authors or the "vision" of a single blind poet - makes it vividly clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the
Iliad remains not only among the greatest adventure stories ever told but also one of the most compelling meditations on the human condition ever written.
-
-
Great!
- By Audible Fan on 11-29-15
By: Elizabeth Vandiver, and others
-
The Norman Conquest
- The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom. An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought.
-
-
A Balanced, Entertaining, and Informative History
- By Jefferson on 06-01-14
By: Marc Morris
-
The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research, celebrated medievalist Dorsey Armstrong shares the fascinating new story of this old pandemic—revealed by dedicated researchers working with 21st-century technologies and a knowledge of language and history that now provide input from all geographic areas of the medieval world. In seven engaging lectures, Professor Armstrong corrects explanations of the pandemic that are now known to be inaccurate and offers a more robust description of plague biology than has ever been known.
-
-
Excellent followup to original course
- By Douglas Vaughan on 05-27-22
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
A Great and Terrible King
- Edward I and the Forging of Britain
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edward I is familiar to millions as "Longshanks", conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace (in Braveheart). Yet this story forms only the final chapter of the king's action-packed life. Earlier, Edward had defeated and killed the famous Simon de Montfort, traveled to the Holy Land, and conquered Wales. He raised the greatest armies of the Middle Ages and summoned the largest parliaments. Notoriously, he expelled all the Jews from his kingdom.
-
-
Narrator and Book are Both Very Good
- By horoscopy on 04-20-15
By: Marc Morris
-
The Wars of the Roses
- The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 15th century saw the longest and bloodiest series of civil wars in British history. The crown of England changed hands five times as two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty fought to the death for the right to rule. Now, celebrated historian Dan Jones describes how the longest reigning British royal family tore itself apart until it was finally replaced by the Tudors. Some of the greatest heroes and villains in history were thrown together in these turbulent times.
-
-
Fabulous story; but need a scorecard.
- By R. on 06-01-15
By: Dan Jones
-
Turning Points in Medieval History
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For an accurate picture of how the political, social, and religious structure of present-day Europe came to be-and even why we're speaking English today-studying the key events between the years 500 and 1500 is of critical import. These 24 gripping lectures deliver an unparalleled look at these moments that profoundly changed the arc of history, and they weave the era's vast array of disparate events into an interconnected tapestry that illuminates why nothing exists in a vacuum.
-
-
Great and clear voice, Easy to understand
- By Christian M.F. Poulsen on 07-10-15
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
The Rise of Rome
- By: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Republic is one of the most breathtaking civilizations in world history. Between roughly 500 BCE to the turn of the millennium, a modest city-state developed an innovative system of government and expanded into far-flung territories across Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. This powerful civilization inspired America's founding fathers, gifted us a blueprint for amazing engineering innovations, left a vital trove of myths, and has inspired the human imagination for 2,000 years.
-
-
Great for the Beginner
- By Amazon Customer on 03-05-18
By: The Great Courses, and others
-
A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
- By: Robert Bucholz, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Bucholz
- Length: 24 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the 229-year period from 1485 to 1714, England transformed itself from a minor feudal state into what has been called "the first modern society" and emerged as the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world.Those years hold a huge and captivating story. The English survived repeated epidemics and famines, one failed invasion and two successful ones, two civil wars, a series of violent religious reformations and counter-reformations, and confrontations with two of the most powerful monarchs on earth.
-
-
Old-fashioned and inaccurate
- By E. Stein on 02-26-14
By: Robert Bucholz, and others
-
King Arthur: History and Legend
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These 24 spellbinding lectures reveal the full scope of the Arthurian tradition, from its beginnings in post-Roman Britain to its extraordinary trajectory across the centuries and its latest incarnations in modern times. Your pathfinder in this world of mythic adventure and romance, Professor Armstrong, is one of the world's leading Arthurian scholars and the current editor-in-chief of the academic journal Arthuriana.
-
-
Twelve Hours in Camelot
- By Carole T. on 04-26-15
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
After the Plague
- By: Simon Doubleday, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Simon Doubleday
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the Black Death swept across Europe, killing up to a half of the population in certain areas, a young Geoffrey Chaucer came of age in England. While he and his family avoided the worst of the disease, all were shaped by its presence and impact on the British island. With expert Simon Doubleday, professor of history at Hofstra University, in After the Plague, examine medieval literature like The Canterbury Tales for firsthand accounts from minority voices not typically heard from in the period.
-
-
Interesting
- By Constance A. Mosher on 06-20-22
By: Simon Doubleday, and others
-
The Pagan World
- Ancient Religions Before Christianity
- By: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
-
-
The Pagan World
- By arnold e andersen md Dr Andersen on 03-28-20
By: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, and others
Publisher's Summary
With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
Your journey starts in the 10th and early 11th centuries, when power in England and Normandy was very much up for grabs - and when the small island nation was under continuous assault from Viking forces. Professor Paxton helps you gain a solid grasp of the complex political alliances and shifting relationships between figures such as Emma of Normandy, Cnut, and Edward the Confessor. She also recounts for you the two seminal battles that pitted England against the Scandinavians and the Normans: the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings. Throughout the lectures, Dr. Paxton opens your eyes to continued debates and controversies over this year and offers her own take on the Norman Conquest's enduring legacy and the fascinating results of this epic clash. By exploring the year 1066 – what led up to it, what happened during that fateful year, and what changed as a result - you'll gain a sharper perspective and a greater understanding of everything that would come afterward.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
Featured Article: Travel to the Middle Ages with These Audiobooks and Podcasts
The Medieval Era, the tumultuous centuries from the fall of the Roman Empire to the advent of the Enlightenment, is one of the most alluring and intriguing periods of human history. Ready to travel back in time? Check out these audiobooks and podcasts, which cover everything from Icelandic sagas and Medieval murder to the queens of Medieval England and the scientific advancements of the Arab World.
More from the same
What listeners say about 1066: The Year That Changed Everything
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joshua
- 07-10-13
History brought to life
Where does 1066: The Year That Changed Everything rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It's definitely one of the better books I've listened to. For certain it ranks among the best non-fiction titles in my library.
Who was your favorite character and why?
William the Conqueror — because that's who the story is mostly about. I was also very intrigued by Emma of Normandy. She's a historical figure I knew little about before listening to this, and I was surprised by just how large her role was in the political side of the events leading up to the Norman invasion of England.
What about Professor Jennifer Paxton’s performance did you like?
She really brings the history to life with a very vivid and entertaining performance. It's easy to see that she enjoys her work. ... If only all my high school and college history instructors had lectured so well!
Any additional comments?
I choose this lecture as the first one I listened to in the Great Courses series to see how I like the series simply because it was short and cheap. It has definitely persuaded me to listen to more of the series.
43 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 02-18-17
A Most Daring Enterprise
At the start of the first lecture Professor Paxton calls William of Normandy’s gamble in the autumn of 1066, “one of the most daring enterprises the world has ever known”. She then goes on to demonstrate, in six concise talks, how true that claim really is.
Living in a world shaped by the levee en masse, two world wars, popular elections and public opinion polling, we tend to discount events that don’t involve millions. But a few thousand men in a few hundred boats can turn the tide of history, too. And behind the military story there’s a diplomatic tangle as complex as anything dynastic or democratic Europe would produce thereafter.
We have marriages and alliances that reach back to the century before the Conquest; a Danish Conquest of England; an earl overawing his weak sovereign; a duke growing up among (and thereby learning how to deal with) rebellious vassals; oaths that may or may not have been given; promises that may or may not have been kept; and more plausible pretenders to the English throne than you could shake a battle-axe at.
It may be only due to lack of time—these lectures run a mere three hours—but I find Professor Paxton’s focus on turning points and pivotal men and women refreshing. Looking at history "from the bottom up" is more fashionable, but telling the story "from the top down" is infinitely more dramatic.
The last lecture, covering the ramifications of the Conquest, is especially illuminating. For example: The inevitable cultural exchange after 1066 introduced Celtic legends and folklore to French writers. As a consequence, after Duke William conquered England King Arthur conquered France, and a literary vein was opened up that has continued to yield entertaining ore right down to our own day.
It is all terribly engrossing, even if the professor sounds a little too much like she’s reading a script. Of course, she may be speaking extemporaneously; I had a professor for Renaissance and Reformation History who had given the same lectures in the same classroom so long that, speaking without a scrap of notes, he rarely fluffed a syllable.
Be that as it may, this presentation lacks the gusto and verve I enjoy so much with Timothy Shutt, Elizabeth Vandiver or Thomas Shippey—and so Professor Paxton lose a star for “Performance”. But the scholarship is solid and the story is thrilling; neither should be missed.
As with everything from the Great Courses, these lectures are encumbered with unnecessary musical intros and canned applause at the beginning and end of each talk. Cringe-making? Yes. But ignorable.
23 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marc
- 02-08-15
1066: A year that spans a decade ...
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If you are into political conflicts, too many characters to handle them in a 4-season family soap and have the slightest interest in real history (along with its outcome in the "modern" picture of Europe): The minutes spent in listening to this short course are definitely of the better ways of killing time.
Mrs. Paxton lectures in a well paced manner, giving her subjects enough differentiation for the listener to not get lost and, most of the time, manages to avoid boredom from simply listing up places, times and names. Well, yes, most of the time - and you do not always get the impression that she is reading her lines from a sheet of paper. Not always :-)
Would you be willing to try another book from The Great Courses? Why or why not?
What I like about some of the Great Courses is the impression that the tutors seem to know their topic inside out. In the case of this (very brief, condensed) overview it seems a bit like a collection of data, brought into "digestible dramatic form" and more or less professionally presented, but not necessarily a matter of the heart.
Being slightly familiar with the families, parties and even geographies covered in the course I could "make my way around", but would probably have had my problems in following who is who and what is what about without that background knowledge.
Some actions during that time had a "long time coming", there were certain historic and/or personal events driving individuals and parties to act the way they did. Mrs. Paxton only hinted at a few of those, and too often just in subordinate clauses, where half an hour of additional time spent at those background might have helped.
So one could say: Since this course is not "just about 1066", but about 10-15 years around that date, it could have done with twice the length it offers.
Have you listened to any of Professor Jennifer Paxton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
What exactly is it that has caught Mrs. Paxton's personal interest in the time around 1066? I did not get that.
Any additional comments?
Don't expect much of an insight into "why" things happened. This course is about "what", "when" and, in terms of pure names, "who". Without some basic understanding who the acting parties were, where they came from and what they turned into, you might get lost.
With some overview of the "tapestry" around the 11th century (and, not less important, the 50-100 years before that) this course gives a nice, dense overview on the "English reconfiguration".
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ms Winston
- 08-13-14
Breaks down a complex subject to small bites
Would you listen to 1066: The Year That Changed Everything again? Why?
Yes, I intend to listen to it again in a few months -- the information is very complex and I want to reinforce my understanding.
What other book might you compare 1066: The Year That Changed Everything to and why?
I think that "Team of Rivals" also breaks complicated issues into segments that make them easier to understand.
What about Professor Jennifer Paxton’s performance did you like?
An excellent instructor! She knows her subject thoroughly -- for example, many of the characters we meet have the same or similiar names and she distinguishes among them for the listener. She understands the complex political and social aspects of the time period and makes it more understandable. Jennifer Paxton also has great expression in her lectures -- no danger of falling asleep due to a monotone with her.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
The beginning of modern England.
Any additional comments?
I have purchased classes from The Teaching Company for years in the DVD format. The classes are much more reasonable in price purchasing them from audible.com. I did not miss the visual aspects.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Red
- 04-27-17
Misleading title
Not as historically impacting as the title implies, but still very interesting. This is more about William the Conqueror and how his conquest changed the English language and culture in England. Very well researched and presented, though.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul D. Stancil
- 12-28-20
Massive Waste of Time
What a horrendous, superficial piece this is. Many errors, mistakes (Harold Hardrada of...Normandy?!) and shaky suppositions. Probably the worst Audible offering I’ve listened to. Didn’t help that I am very well read on 1066 and the era/players. It was free - that’s all I can say for it. My advice - go and listen to any of many other good efforts on the subject, and bypass this.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Happy Boater
- 08-17-18
History - lite
A very brief over view... it feels a bit like I walked in on a conversation mid stream .
It seemed to lack the structure and depth of other lectures ie- the Vikings and other great courses Historical lectures.
A short lecture not bad but it just seemed like I heard someone discussing their lineage .
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Timothy E. McGuire
- 08-05-18
insightful but short
great visuals and memorable characters. much shorter than other great courses. liked the lecturer. subject was new to me so I learned a lot.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- becca508
- 12-10-15
Great lecture!
This is the first Audible.com and Great Courses lecture series I've done! It was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. If you love History, Medieval in particular, you will enjoy this!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- D. Gilmore
- 01-12-19
Wm the conquerer
This course is very informative of the period and is also a very enjoyable listen.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 07-15-17
short
very short, maybe the Norman conquest including Ireland would give more substance. Great execution none the less
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ama
- 05-02-14
An excellent lecture on a momentous year
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Well, if you want to have a deeper understanding on the conquest and the situation that led up to it, this is vital. This contains the nuance often missing from the open/closed dichotomy taught in schools
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
Emma Of Normandy Queen of England is so Pivotal, but I had never heard of her before. She fled to Normandy with her sons, She was the mother to the last Anglo-Saxon King Edward the confessor, who spent his formative years in Normandy.
Did Professor Jennifer Paxton do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?
Professor Paxton, is a really lively and expressive teacher. She was exhaustive in her explanations. Can't speak highly enough of her.
Did 1066: The Year That Changed Everything inspire you to do anything?
Do my own research
Any additional comments?
After doing my own research I found out that William the conqueror's wife Matilda Duchess of Normandy herself was descended from Alfred the great.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Goldfrapper
- 08-04-20
Short but sweet
3 hours is a bit on the short side for a Great Course, but it's probably long enough to deal with a single year even if that year happens to be 1066.
Ms Paxton makes the subject interesting, even introduced a few characters I'd not heard of who aren’t usually brought into the story (queens and princes). If I had one small criticism, it's a bit hagiographical about Duke William - clearly he was a capable and often judicious leader and ruler, but his 'harrying of North' should not have been dismissed as "one of those things that was done in medieval times".
All in all though, if you want to learn the full story of what led to the Battle of Hastings, and what immediately followed, I can recommend this course.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Brett Hinsley
- 07-30-20
Great courses review
Great courses review, I didn’t find this as captivating as other great courses I’ve listened to, 10th and early 11th centuries of England and Normandy which was very much up for the taking of our small nation, continuous assault from Viking forces.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Andyjn
- 02-01-20
Interesting and informative
This course is a good way to learn about this formative event in British history. The professor was clear and conversational in tone.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Colin H
- 08-26-19
Excellent synopsis
A very good potted history of the Norman Conquest, its antecedents and its legacy. A rewarding listen, I enjoyed it very much.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 09-30-21
extremely interesting
Really informative, well presented & researched.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. great job, thank you
1 person found this helpful