The Holy Roman Empire

By: James Bryce

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Contents

Chapter 1: Introductory
Chapter 2: The Roman Empire Before the Invasion of the Barbarians
Chapter 3: The Barbarian Invasions
Chapter 4: Restoration of the Empire in the West
Chapter 5: Empire and Policy of Charles
Chapter 6: Carolingian and Italian Emperors
Chapter 7: Theory of the Medæval Empire
Chapter 8: The Roman Empire and the German Kingdom
Chapter 9: Saxon and Franconian Emperors
Chapter 10: Struggle of the Empire and the Papacy
Chapter 11: The Emperors in Italy: Frederick Barbarossa
Chapter 12: Imperial Titles and Pretensions
Chapter 13: Fall of the Hohenstaufen
Chapter 14: The Germanic Constitution - the Seven Electors
Chapter 15: The Empire as an International Power
Chapter 16: The City of Rome in the Middle Ages
Chapter 17: The Renaissance: Change in the Character of the Empire
Chapter 18: The Reformation and Its Effects upon the Empire
Chapter 19: The Peace of Westphalia: Last Stage in the Decline of the Empire
Chapter 20: Fall of the Empire
Chapter 21: Conclusion and General Summary

Public Domain (P)2017 Audio Connoisseur

Broadened my knowledge of this time in history.

I'll be honest however this is a quite a labor to listen to for long sittings. Having a historical companion map is helpful to see where these events take place.

Short listens and repeat listening in definitely required if you want to grasp the material.

History Is Living

This is an excellent general historic outline of the history of Europe after the Roman Empire in the west was infiltrated by Germanic peoples. From cause is effect and this book shows in it’s theme how the Roman Empire still was in the mental view of Charlegmage to Napoleon Bonaparte. This book shows how centralised power with a union of church and state led to secular politics and the defining of nations today. This book is not only beautifully written and narrated, it is a must for all lover’s of history.

As dry as it is informative

Certainly, the language used made it difficult at times to listen and decipher what was being said.
That being said, a more compete history of the Holy Roman Empire shall not be found, I think

NOT an easy but addicting listen!

This is an advanced study that focusses on causes and consequences. Know your history first. The names and dates go by so fast if mentioned at all that I found myself constantly trying to catch up with what was being told. That being said, once I got into the book, I couldn`t stop listening to it and I did learn more than I expected by the end. NOW, I going to go back and listen to some more history of the period and may, just may listen to this book again. Griffin does an outstanding narration.

Unique coverage of the subject

Excellent overall view of the Holy Roman Empire, covering not only the historical events but also the philosophical, religious issues, political forces and people's beliefs of the different times in which the institution of the Holy Roman Empire either prevailed or coexisted with the Papacy, the Eastern Roman Empire and other kingdoms. Beautiful performance, with fitting old fashioned British accent and great care in pronouncing names in the correct way for listeners conversant with vernacular languages, including latin. Some repetition of ideas here and there in the story to reinforce them, but at times somewhat otious.