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  • 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
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (158 ratings)
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The History of the Renaissance World

By: Susan Wise Bauer
Narrated by: John Lee
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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.

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

What listeners say about The History of the Renaissance World

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Enjoyable exploration of high middle ages

Not just about Europe, and it's infighting and invaders, but also the rise (and fall) of the Mongols and Timurlane, and of various Asian and African hegemonies. Note that 'Renaissance' does not mean Italian Renaissance (post-fall of Constantinople), but does include the Carolingian Renaissance, as well as Wycliffe and Jan Hus (as well as Dante), the proto-Protestants.

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21 people found this helpful

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not the renaissance

A very good review of the late Middle Ages, not the Renaissance World, as the title says

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13 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Bit of a struggle

Any additional comments?

I struggled with this then eventually gave up part way through. I know I should be broad-minded and all-embracing but the narrative 'jumps' all round the globe and in parts is very difficult to follow.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyable

I loved this book. I have listened to multiple histories on audible of this period. Other books focus on one civilisation. This book is a grand tour of the globe as the history of the middle ages and early renaissance unfolds.

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8 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Hard to follow

Don’t think I’m going to finish this one. Hard to follow. It might get better in later chapters but not sure I have the patience!

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This is not about the XVI century renaissance

Wonderful achievement, I loved the eyebird's view of various civilizations across the same period. There is little political analysis or social background, only facts after facts. So if you want to tidy up your knowledge and fill the gaps, this is perfect erudite history book.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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History sequenced

Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I liked the way it progressed so many timelines at a pace that kept me interested.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Great listen, covers a lot

it was a great listen, wish I'd know about the accompanying PDF before i reached the end of the book

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Well read. Nice short chapters, kept a good pace, learned lots. Now going to buy the book too. Will also listen again.

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4 people found this helpful

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wicked

loved it, lots of information and very interesting. just want to find out more now.

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4 people found this helpful