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1066: The Year That Changed Everything cover art

1066: The Year That Changed Everything

By: Jennifer Paxton,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
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Summary

With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.

Your journey starts in the 10th and early 11th centuries, when power in England and Normandy was very much up for grabs - and when the small island nation was under continuous assault from Viking forces. Professor Paxton helps you gain a solid grasp of the complex political alliances and shifting relationships between figures such as Emma of Normandy, Cnut, and Edward the Confessor. She also recounts for you the two seminal battles that pitted England against the Scandinavians and the Normans: the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings. Throughout the lectures, Dr. Paxton opens your eyes to continued debates and controversies over this year and offers her own take on the Norman Conquest's enduring legacy and the fascinating results of this epic clash. By exploring the year 1066 – what led up to it, what happened during that fateful year, and what changed as a result - you'll gain a sharper perspective and a greater understanding of everything that would come afterward.

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

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

What listeners say about 1066: The Year That Changed Everything

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short

very short, maybe the Norman conquest including Ireland would give more substance. Great execution none the less

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5 people found this helpful

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An excellent lecture on a momentous year

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Well, if you want to have a deeper understanding on the conquest and the situation that led up to it, this is vital. This contains the nuance often missing from the open/closed dichotomy taught in schools

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Emma Of Normandy Queen of England is so Pivotal, but I had never heard of her before. She fled to Normandy with her sons, She was the mother to the last Anglo-Saxon King Edward the confessor, who spent his formative years in Normandy.

Did Professor Jennifer Paxton do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Professor Paxton, is a really lively and expressive teacher. She was exhaustive in her explanations. Can't speak highly enough of her.

Did 1066: The Year That Changed Everything inspire you to do anything?

Do my own research

Any additional comments?

After doing my own research I found out that William the conqueror's wife Matilda Duchess of Normandy herself was descended from Alfred the great.

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4 people found this helpful

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Enjoyable and informative lecture

Enjoyable lecture, as always, from The Great Courses. The lecturer was clear and easy to understand and was a good length to listen in a few gos.

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A turning point in history

Every title by Dorsey Armstrong is always well researched, and informative. As well as being presented in a way that is accessable even by us non-academics.

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interesting modern take on 1066

lecturer presents an interesting and enlightening perspectivective on events leading to 1066 and beyond.
easy to listen to.

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Short but sweet

3 hours is a bit on the short side for a Great Course, but it's probably long enough to deal with a single year even if that year happens to be 1066.

Ms Paxton makes the subject interesting, even introduced a few characters I'd not heard of who aren’t usually brought into the story (queens and princes). If I had one small criticism, it's a bit hagiographical about Duke William - clearly he was a capable and often judicious leader and ruler, but his 'harrying of North' should not have been dismissed as "one of those things that was done in medieval times".

All in all though, if you want to learn the full story of what led to the Battle of Hastings, and what immediately followed, I can recommend this course.

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Great courses review

Great courses review, I didn’t find this as captivating as other great courses I’ve listened to, 10th and early 11th centuries of England and Normandy which was very much up for the taking of our small nation, continuous assault from Viking forces.

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Interesting and informative

This course is a good way to learn about this formative event in British history. The professor was clear and conversational in tone.

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Excellent synopsis

A very good potted history of the Norman Conquest, its antecedents and its legacy. A rewarding listen, I enjoyed it very much.

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