The Middle Ages Around the World

By: Joyce E. Salisbury, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Joyce E. Salisbury

The Middle Ages was a time of major historical shifts and transformations. This amazing era reverberates with discoveries, innovations, events, and historical processes that are integral to the world we know now.

In these 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Salisbury leads you on a sumptuous tour of this incredible historical epoch, making clear that the remarkable historical currents and advances of the Middle Ages unfolded not only in the West, but across the globe, from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to Asia, the Americas, and beyond:

• Expansion, Prosperity, and Networks of Trade. Grasp the advances in technology and agriculture that drove civilizations from Europe to China and map the great trading networks that connected medieval civilizations.
• The Age of Faith. The Middle Ages was an era of vast religious expansion and controversy; witness this in events such as the rise of Islam; the drama and disaster of the Crusades; Buddhism’s spread across Asia; and the internal schisms within Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity.
• Medieval Treasures of Art and Architecture. Explore the triumphs of medieval architecture, from European castles and cathedrals to the sublime religious monuments of Indonesia and Cambodia; delve into the medieval literary epics of heroes and lovers that still move us.
• The Phenomenon of Travel. Visualize the amazing sea voyages of the Vikings and the Polynesians, and travel Asia and the Far East in the company of legendary travelers Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and Lady Nijo.
• The Medieval Americas. Study the economies, religions, and monumental architecture of the Maya in Mexico, the Chaco Canyon peoples in North America, the Chimu civilization in Peru, and the forest peoples of the Amazon.

Crossing many cultures, continents, and 1,000 years of history, The Middle Ages Around the World offers you a dazzling journey through an epoch that continues to speak meaningfully to the modern world.

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

©2022 The Great Courses (P)2022 The Teaching Company, LLC

Excellent comparative survey

A thoughtful, thematic approach to the religious, political and social interrelationships on the Eurasian continent from 400-1400CE with a too brief look at Africa, the Americas and Polynesia. Tantalizing and frustrating. Tantalizing because we glimpse what medieval life might have been like. Frustrating because we know there is so much more to understand. Survey courses, especially comparative courses, can only cover so much time and space. We yearn to study the past with unlimited time and a Webb Telescope but must make do with 30 minute snapshots from an earth and time bound observer. Fortunately, Dr. Salisbury has chosen her snapshots well. I'm grateful for the care with which she has guided us through a journey of a thousand years.

What's needed now are more global approaches to understanding the past with more than token references to the great cultures and trade routes of Africa, the Americas and Oceania. Also needed are more in-depth courses on those regions. For example, there are NO Great Courses on African civilizations.

Understanding Where We Come From

This was a stellar review of the Middle Ages. it provides great insights to how many ideas and inventions spread. The lectures highlight many trends from the middle ages that live on today. For example while Mohammed was deeply bothered by the conflicts among Christian groups, Islam split into Sunni and Shia groups (today's names) that echo from just after his death to the present day. I am a student of history and found this fascinating and enlightening, giving new insights and drawing many different parallel ideas together from the Middle Ages.

Truly World History

I often tire of world history overviews that are VERY Eurocentric. This is thankfully not that. I felt it was an excellent overview that helps give you perspective about the evolution of different civilizations at the same time. She has a conversational style that reminds me of having a chat with your favorite teacher about the topic they are passionate about. Very engaging. Highly recommend.

An Engaging, Challenging Introduction

This set of lectures is for people interested not only in the "Middle Ages," but also in having their preconceptions about the "Middle Ages" challenged. With a well-constructed narrative, and a sharp eye for detail and irony, the presenter surveys about a thousand years of history, all the while removing Europe from the center of the story. The result is challenging, but also accessible, and a pleasure to experience.

OUR DEBT TO THE MIDDLE AGES

Joyce Salisbury succinctly summarized the development of the Middle Ages in this lecture series. In a well organized fashion, she covered events on all of the continents and Island nations. Most studies delve into the life of European serfs and vassals. This presentation tied events through out the whole world. It answers the questions: what was going on in China? the Middle East? the Americas? The delivery style was engaging; I didn’t have a problem staying with it.