Few people have a firm grasp of the medieval narrative or how its ripples gave way to everything that followed. For an accurate picture of how the political, social, and religious structure of present-day Europe came to be, studying the key events between the years 500 to 1500 is of critical import. These 24 gripping lectures offer an unparalleled look at the moments that profoundly changed the arc of history, weaving the era's vast array of disparate events into an interconnected tapestry that illuminates why nothing exists in a vacuum. As you delve into medieval conflicts, hardships, and inventions, you'll encounter five recurring themes that help you get a handle on the material: the power of the past, primarily a desire to re-create the glory of the Roman Empire; necessity and crisis, which led to the rapid adoption of Arabic numerals and the various responses to the Black Death; serendipity, as in the bountiful warming period known as the Little Optimum; individual personalities from Charlemagne to William of Normandy; and the confluence of broad historical and social movements that precipitated events like Pope Urban II's call for the First Crusade. Even if you're a history buff, Professor Armstrong's dynamic lectures may have you rethinking what you thought you knew. Methodical and meticulous in their approach to a labyrinthine age, they'll help you connect the dots from the sack of Rome through the Renaissance and beyond.
