The History of the Renaissance World

From the Rediscovery of Aristotle to the Conquest of Constantinople

By: Susan Wise Bauer

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 21 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A lively and fascinating narrative history about the birth of the modern world.

Beginning in the heady days just after the First Crusade, this volume - the third in the series that began with The History of the Ancient World and The History of the Medieval World - chronicles the contradictions of a world in transition. Popes continue to preach crusade, but the hope of a Christian empire comes to a bloody end at the walls of Constantinople. Aristotelian logic and Greek rationality blossom while the Inquisition gathers strength. As kings and emperors continue to insist on their divine rights, ordinary people all over the world seize power: the lingayats of India, the Jacquerie of France, the Red Turbans of China, and the peasants of England.

New threats appear, as the Ottomans emerge from a tiny Turkish village and the Mongols ride out of the East to set the world on fire. New currencies are forged, new weapons invented, and world-changing catastrophes alter the landscape: the Little Ice Age and the Great Famine kill millions; the Black Death, millions more. In the chaos of these epoch-making events, our own world begins to take shape.

Impressively researched and brilliantly told, The History of the Renaissance World offers not just the names, dates, and facts but the memorable characters who illuminate the years between 1100 and 1453 - years that marked a sea change in mankind's perception of the world.

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

©2013 Susan Wise Bauer (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

more than just European history

I like that this series covers the history of the entire world chronologically, so you can get a sense of what was happening in Asia, India, the Americas, etc. and break out of the old eurocentric view point.

Best history book

I’ve listened several times to this. It brings history to life. People are people and she’s done an awesome job creating stories showing their behavior.

Objective content and appealing voice

I thought the author might be biased toward Christianity because of her religious background but it turned out what I had hoped: human history is game of chance, NOT divine manipulation. Good reading for middle age and above.

Another great history

The pacing of the narration is excellent, the research seems quite deep, and the historic road map detailed and informative. I truly hope Susan Bauer sees fit to do a volume tying the end of this to modern history!

A pleasure

It shed light on so much, and I wanted it to keep going on and on.

War after war after war

Was so glad to get a world history view of the time. The reader was excellent and drew me on. His pronunciation of names was amazing. When thinking Renaissance I think of multiple changes, not just political. Had this book had been titled Political History of the Renaissance I would give it 5 stars.

So vivid..i could feel to be part of wars battles

and negotiations. this continuum on earlier two books completes my study of history of to 1453 - the fall of Constantinople.

The greatest story ever told. Told quite well.

Having read all three of Wise Bauer's world history tomes, this third volume was equally as informative and entertaining as the previous. It begins with the first cracks in the foundation of Christianity, brings the reader through the post-Roman ruled world of the Renaissance period and the Crusades as well as as documenting the emergence of China and Asia.

Wonderful

The task of reading a big book of history such as this can seem daunting. However, the author has written this book in a way that does not bog the reader down with the dry and dull parts of history. Instead, Bauer weaves an engaging narrative that jumps around the globe and ties each region's local history into a single global history that provides a great picture of the world leading into the Renaissance. History buffs and casual fans of history alike would enjoy this book.

AWESOME BOOK, AWESOME NARRATOR

if you like history, you'll love this book! HIGHLY researched & informative, great story & great narrator alike!