The medieval era was a time of extraordinary advances in numerous fields of knowledge ranging from philosophy and theology to science, medicine, literature, and economics-as well as of revolutionary developments in education and the birth of the university. This fascinating epoch was not only a time of great innovation, it was the era in which the seeds of the modern West were sown. In the 24 lectures of Great Minds of the Medieval World, Professor Dorsey Armstrong of Purdue University guides you on a compelling journey into the lives of the vanguard thinkers of the Middle Ages. This course discusses the era's most outstanding innovators and visionaries whose great contributions included facilitating the achievements of others. In this remarkable gallery of great minds, you'll encounter the leading lights of a world-shaping era, exploring their unique contributions to knowledge and the growth of our civilization.
Great Minds of the Medieval World
Go beyond the typical philosophy course and explore the most fascinating minds of the Middle Ages, including great philosophers, prolific writers, and cultural movers.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Farah from
A masterful Review
Dorsey Armstrong's video lectures on the medieval world are nothing short of exceptional. From the very first lecture to the final one, Armstrong captivates her audience with her depth of knowledge, engaging delivery, and meticulous organization of material.
One of the standout aspects of Armstrong's lectures is how she effortlessly raises the bar for educational content. Her expertise shines through as she expertly navigates complex historical narratives, making them accessible and captivating for viewers of all backgrounds. With each lecture, she delves deeper into the medieval period, painting a vivid picture of its people, cultures, and events.
What truly sets Armstrong's lectures apart is her impeccable structuring and delivery. The material flows seamlessly, almost as if Armstrong is guiding viewers on a journey through time. Her ability to connect seemingly disparate topics and weave them together into a cohesive narrative is commendable. Watching her lectures feels less like a passive learning experience and more like a rich exploration of history brought to life.
Furthermore, the joy and passion Armstrong exudes for her subject are infectious. It's evident that she genuinely cares about sharing her knowledge and insights with her audience. This enthusiasm makes the lectures not only informative but also enjoyable and engaging.
While the value of Armstrong's lectures is undeniable, it's disheartening to see them offered at a discounted price. The immense effort and dedication she has put into crafting these lectures deserve recognition and reward. Indeed, the content she provides is invaluable, and one can't help but feel that it's worth far more than its current price tag.
In conclusion, completing all 24 lectures was a delightful journey through the medieval world. Dorsey Armstrong's expertise, passion, and skillful presentation make these lectures a must-watch for anyone interested in history. Her ability to convey complex concepts with clarity and enthusiasm sets a high standard for educational content creators. Without a doubt, Armstrong's video lectures are a treasure trove of knowledge and a testament to the power of effective teaching.
Date published: 2024-03-20
Rated 3 out of
5
by
TheApePerson from
I concurr with the most 'helpful critical review'
Enjoyable to listen to, but not really educative on ideas.
If we assume this to be a continuation of the other great minds series, imo, the wrong lecturer has been chosem, because Armstrong does not seem to be interested in what makes a mind great, but more so in what makes their life interesting.
This leads to some attractively, but, partially due to the episodic nature, and broads scope of the series, thinly painted portraits. Armstrong is a great storyteller. This makes for some memories, but, and this might have been my mindstate at the time,most of what has been presented proved as somewhat forgettable - I assume because what makes persons great minds is not sufficiently fleshed out.
This being said, Armstrong is a great presenter.
I am so critical here, because the 'great minds' label really makes me want to learn about the ideas, to share in their minds in a sense, as is captured in other great minds series.
Really great minds could have warranted at least two 30 minute lectures, for us to get a sense of their ideas, their intellectual development, and their lifes.
A criteria of how much presentation space a single great personage has gotten seems to rather have been how much time it will take to tell the stories that the lecturer finds most interesting.
Perhaps my own preferences are at play here, but I hoped to get more value out of the course.
Date published: 2023-09-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
GermanLady from
Kept my attention, learned so much new!
Dr, Armstrong said at the end that she hopes that the viewer/listener has enjoyed the course as much she did. Yes, indeed this was one of the best courses I watched.
Her teaching style and how she presents the history, concepts, people in the medieval world and the complexity of events is absolutely fascinating. I regret just one thing: When I went to school back in Germany history was one of the most boring subjects because how the teacher presented it and I did not learn a lot. And i think I was not the only one. I wished I would have had a wonderful teacher just like her. Thank you. God bless.
Date published: 2023-08-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Hiker1973 from
Fascinating episodes - Great Presenter
I have watched several of Dorsey Armstrong's courses and am always fascinated with the subjects. She is a great lecturer and storyteller. I didn't know about most of these Great Minds and the stories are fascinating. I will watch it again. I think if Dr. Armstrong gave a course on how to watch paint dry, it would be fascinating and I would probably learn something and watch it again.
Date published: 2023-07-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
David and Michele from
Thanks to the professor and the great courses
For covering 1200 years of history in 24 lectures she does a fine job, showing how the people she discusses relate to, build upon, and dispute with each other. She also makes it clear that we owe much to their thought. Some of these thinkers were new to us and we think some will be new to many who do not delve into this time period on their own. We recommend this course.
Date published: 2023-06-08
Rated 4 out of
5
by
EngineerinVA from
Interesting Review by an Excellent Lecturer
The course is organized into four clusters:
• 8 lectures on early medieval world, all of whom were influenced by early Christianity
• 4 lectures on Islamic and Jewish traditions
• 6 lectures on the High Middle Ages, looking at how Christianity attempted to come to grips with the new learning, often trying to reconcile Christian, Islamic, and Jewish thinking
• 6 lectures on the transition to the early modern world
The course shows a gradual trend in Western intellectual thought away from religious interests and toward primarily secular interests.
As might be expected, each lecture is centered on a person who represent a particular intellectual development. In general, Dr. Armstrong provides the historical context and personal history of the individual and then notes what contribution that person made to development of Western intellectual tradition. Interestingly, this is in contrast with Dr. Grant Hardy’s approach in the companion course Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition. In that course, Dr. Hardy emphasizes the philosophical development and pays much less attention to the historical context and personal history.
Dr. Armstrong is one of the better lecturers at The Great Courses. I recommend all her courses Except for the Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research. She is well organized, she speaks clearly, and she is easy to follow.
The course guide is a bullet summary of the lectures. The visual aids consist primarily of pictures of the people being discussed, which adds little insight. There is an extensive bibliography. There is no timeline, which might have been helpful.
I used the video version. The visual aids were not crucial to understanding the material. One could easily listen to these lectures in audio-only mode such as while commuting or jogging.
The course was published in 2014.
Date published: 2022-07-31
Rated 4 out of
5
by
TonyBeach from
Interesting topic
This course is pitched to high school students. This is not a criticism, it's just a statement so that people know. It is very interesting but short of details and more difficult concepts. It also spends a lot of time repeating information and keeping an uninterrupted context which is didactically correct but for an informed adult it's repetitive.
Date published: 2022-05-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Booradley from
Really well done.
This course is filled with fun facts and more facts. I am not done but so far it has met all my expectations. It is a time period that I was not familiar with and that is a shame. There were so many brilliant people that I had no idea existed. Bravo to the instructor.
Date published: 2022-04-25
Overview
About
Dorsey Armstrong is a Professor of English and Medieval Literature at Purdue University, where she is also the head of the Department of English. She received her PhD in Medieval Literature from Duke University. She is the executive editor of the academic journal Arthuriana, which publishes cutting-edge research on the legend of King Arthur, from its medieval origins to its modern enactments. She is a recipient of the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, Purdue’s top undergraduate teaching honor. Her other Great Courses include The Black Death: The World’s Most Devastating Plague and The Medieval World.
Trailer
01: Augustine of Hippo
Begin the inquiry with Augustine, whose writings were a towering influence on the great medieval minds that followed. Trace Augustine's life, from his early experiences and restless spiritual inquiry to his conversion to Christianity and ministry. Study his core teachings on the nature of language, good and evil, and free will.
31 min
02: Ambrose, Jerome, and Gregory the Great
These three extraordinary figures, together with Augustine, are considered the fathers of the Christian church. Learn about Ambrose's contributions to aligning the ideals of the classical world with those of Christianity, Jerome's writings and his seminal Latin version of the Bible, and Gregory's influential "fourfold" model of reading scripture.
29 min
03: Boethius and the Consolation of Philosophy
The remarkable Anicius Boethius combined a top-level political career with noteworthy contributions to education and philosophy. Assess his huge influence in defining the parameters of medieval education; his work to heal schisms in the early church; and his masterwork, the Consolation of Philosophy, written as he awaited execution on false charges.
29 min
04: Isidore of Seville and the Etymologies
Isidore of Seville left another extraordinary legacy to education. Trace the arc of his career, from his early immersion in the Greek and Roman classics to his advocacy of cathedral schools and his creation of the Etymologies, a massive encyclopedia of human knowledge and one of the most influential books of the Middle Ages.
30 min
05: The Venerable Bede
The English monk Bede rose to become a revered and beloved teacher and a huge influence on future generations of scholars and educators. Following his seemingly miraculous survival of the plague, learn about his self-education and astonishing body of works, and study excerpts from his monumental Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
30 min
06: Alcuin, Charlemagne, and Alfred the Great
Now, investigate the remarkable partnership between the British scholar Alcuin of York and the Frankish emperor Charlemagne in creating a palace school and center of learning at Aachen. Grasp how both Charlemagne and Alfred the Great of England demonstrated a visionary commitment to learning by working to gather, preserve, and translate important texts.
30 min
07: Avicenna and the Golden Age of Islam
The Islamic scholar Avicenna was one of history's great polymaths. Learn about his remarkable youthful accomplishments, his impact on medieval medicine through two core texts, and the astounding range of his writings. Explore three key elements of his thought: his views on "essence" and "existence," the problem of evil, and the mind/body dualism.
31 min
08: Alhacen and the Scientific Method
This lecture discusses another of the great minds of Islam's Golden Age. Investigate Alhacen's seminal theories of optics and vision, which laid the foundation for later optical science. Grasp his contribution to resolving classic scientific conundrums, and his role in developing scientific methodology, based in rigorous empirical testing of his own theories.
30 min
09: Averroes and Aristotelian Philosophy
Averroes's extraordinary mind was shaped by the sophisticated society of medieval Muslim Spain. Follow his long scholarly service to the caliph of Marrakesh, which produced his hugely influential commentaries on Aristotle, reconciling Aristotle's philosophy with Islamic thought. Learn also about his illustrious legal career and contributions to medicine.
32 min
10: Maimonides and Jewish Law
The writings of Maimonides, the Jewish scholar, philosopher, and jurist, remain a key component of Jewish culture and have influenced legal philosophy down to the modern day. Here, explore his cornerstone work on Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah, his Guide for the Perplexed, which works to integrate Greek philosophy with Jewish theology, and his thought on the Via Negativa, or Negative Theology.
30 min
11: Rashi and Biblical Interpretation
Discover the remarkable commentaries on the Torah and Talmud by the French Jewish rabbi Rashi-works considered definitive within the faith-in which he sought to thoroughly explicate the texts to readers. Using textual excerpts, learn how later scholar-writers known as "tosafists" worked to further elaborate and extend Rashi's commentaries.
29 min
12: Saladin and the Defeat of the Crusaders
Here, encounter one of history's most unusual political leaders: a brilliant military commander who worked for peace, and also demonstrated a deep interest in learning and faith. Track his ingenious strategy against the Crusaders at the battle of Hattin, and follow the aftermath of the conflict, events that reveal Saladin's visionary acts of humanity and broadmindedness.
30 min
13: Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard, the medieval mystic and polymath, was recently recognized as both a saint and a Doctor of the Church. Follow her unique accomplishments as the only woman of her time to write officially sanctioned theological books and to preach openly. Investigate her remarkable visions and her achievements in music, medicine, and literature.
31 min
14: Bernard of Clairvaux
Like Pope Gregory the Great, Bernard of Clairvaux made a historic contribution through promoting and explicating important religious teachings. Learn about his seminal work in monastic reform, his great skill as an orator, his public role in resolving religious controversies of his time, and his influential writings on church doctrine.
30 min
15: Abelard and Heloise
This lecture highlights two of history's legendary intellects. Trace the career of Peter Abelard as a teacher and philosophical writer of vast impact, and the intellectual and religious life of his student, Héloïse, whose brilliance may have exceeded his own. Grasp how their tragic relationship ultimately served as a catalyst for their greatest intellectual achievements.
30 min
16: Peter Lombard and the Sentences
In the Sentences, Peter Lombard wrote the most important and commented-upon theological textbook of the Middle Ages. Study the book's key influences and Lombard's original thought on matters such as the Holy Spirit and the nature of Christ, and learn how the book offers a systematic framework for exploring important theological questions.
29 min
17: Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas's towering influence as a religious scholar extends from the Middle Ages to the present day. Investigate his magnum opus, the Summa Theologiae, focusing on his thought on Aristotelian philosophy and his famous arguments for God's existence. Learn also about his remarkable character and astounding powers of mind.
30 min
18: William of Ockham and John Duns Scotus
The work of two remarkable British scholars influenced both philosophical and political thought. Learn about Duns Scotus's provocative theories on the "univocity" of being and the notion of haecceity, or "thisness." Grasp how Ockham's thought anticipates modern ideas about knowledge, language, and the separation of church and state.
30 min
19: Geoffrey Chaucer and Dante Alighieri
This lecture explores interesting parallels in the work and thought of two literary geniuses. Contemplate the range of Dante and Chaucer's writings, highlighting Dante's Divine Comedy and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and observe how the two authors employed a literary strategy that allowed them to speak about every level and aspect of society.
30 min
20: Francesco Petrarch
The Italian poet Petrarch stood at the crossroads of the medieval and early modern worlds. Learn about his life and key works, and his role in a growing cultural shift that placed new emphasis on the individual, a valuing of art and history, and an intersection of the secular and religious worlds.
31 min
21: Lorenzo de' Medici
Known as Il Magnifico, Lorenzo de' Medici was a statesman and civic leader of extraordinary farsightedness. Trace his remarkable diplomatic accomplishments as de facto political leader of Florence, as well as his activity as a patron of literature and art, founder of a school for sculpture, and promoter of continuing education.
31 min
22: Christine de Pisan
The intellectually brilliant Christine de Pisan became Europe's first professional female writer. Learn about the extraordinary diversity of her work, her masterful love poetry, and her writings in response to the distorted representation of women in medieval literature, highlighting her allegorical text, The Book of the City of Ladies.
30 min
23: Sir Thomas Malory and Le Morte Darthur
Malory's massive retelling of Arthurian legend reflects deeply on the social order of his times. Grasp how this remarkable text elaborates an ideal code of knightly conduct, and then "tests" it throughout the narrative, comprising a stark commentary on medieval political realities while offering an inspiring vision of what might yet be.
30 min
24: William Caxton and the Birth of Printing
Conclude by assessing the remarkable contribution of England's first printer. Learn about the advent of movable type printing and Caxton's ingenious entrepreneurship in publishing, highlighting his role in shaping the tastes of the reading public, standardizing English, and making the works of the Middle Ages' great minds accessible.
32 min
