Great Minds of the Medieval World

By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong

The Middle Ages was a time of major advances in many fields of knowledge, from theology and philosophy to science, medicine, art, literature, and education. Owing to the work of an astonishing range of visionary thinkers, this fascinating period was the era in which the foundations of the modern Western world were laid. In the medieval era’s great minds we find the roots of many aspects of today’s world - from the religious/philosophical thought of Augustine, Ambrose of Milan, and Thomas Aquinas to the scientific innovations of Avicenna and Alhacen, the enlightened statesmanship of Charlemagne and Lorenzo de Medici, and the literary creations of Dante and Chaucer.

In these 24 lectures, Professor Armstrong leads you on an enthralling journey into the lives of the seminal thinkers of the Middle Ages. In this gallery of extraordinary minds, you'll encounter the leading lights of a world-shaping era, including figures such as Maimonides, Hildegard of Bingen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Peter Abelard, and Francesco Petrarch. Professor Armstrong goes to great lengths to bring these historic figures to life, revealing both the great intellectual contributions and the personal strivings, challenges, and triumphs of some of history's most remarkable human beings. These compelling lectures take you deeply into the heart of one of civilization’s most dynamic and impactful eras.

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

©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great Courses

Great Minds of the Medieval World

This lecture series is added to my favorites. I recommend checking in out. Thanks!

Great experience with Great Courses

I love these courses, especially when we're traveling! This one is easy to listen to, as Prof Armstrong has a great voice and is so knowledgeable.

Very informative

This is the third of Dorsey Armstrong’s lecture series I have followed. All of them are fantastic!

DORSEY ROCKS!!!

Consistently excellent!!! I love all her courses. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I wish she had been a professor of mine in college.

Great minds, fascinating people

Somewhat to my surprise, this is one of my favorite Great Courses.

I bought it on sale figuring "Why not?" I had no particular interest in the middle ages, which I imagined as always dark and smelly.

Professor Dorsey Armstrong LOVES this time period, and her enthusiasm and knowledge are contagious. There were quite a few people I'd never heard of. By far my favorites were Hildegarde of Bingen and Christine of Pisan.

They are the only two women with their own chapter (Abelard and Heloise have one together) and they are truly remarkable.

Hildegarde was an eminent scholar respected by the clergy and pope (amazing in this time period) and Christine was a successful writer and businesswoman. Christine, in particular, surprises me because most educated women (that I know of) were either noblewomen or nuns, and she was neither.

The other Greats were also interesting, and Professor Armstrong really helps us understand how their thoughts affected global thinking and learning.

I've purchased (coincidentally) two of Professor Armstrong's courses and loved them both. I will now be looking for more. Turning Points in Medieval History might be next.