While Professor Daidleader excels in breathing life into the subject by supplying fine biographical details, he does really well in the treatment of Phillip II of France and, especially, the Holy Roman Emperor (also known as the “wonder of the world”), Frederick II. I find most interesting Professor Daileader’s comments on the status of women (not all bad) the treatment of heresy the impact of technology (including the important development of the horse collar that facilities plowing) the pointing out of myths and realities of the inquisition students comprising a “criminal element” in the new university towns the significance and development of the Investiture controversy in church/state relations and the First Crusade. Moreover, not only is Europe freed from the depredations of the plague and invasions, but also benefits from a changing climate that is warmer and drier than in the perilous period. High on the list is the unusual doubling of population, the basis for so many other changes, most notably urbanization. What a change in circumstances! Professor Daileader does so well from beginning to end, starting off with the favorable reversal in fortunes from the earlier period. The Early Middle Ages course covers the period 300-1000 AD this one deals with 1000-1300AD. The lectures just move along so well and left me looking forward to the next one. The High Middle Ages course, like that on the Early Middle Ages, is full of very interesting and often fascinating information, conveyed by a presenter who is easy to follow and understand. (Though the Teaching Company released this course in 2001, the second in a three part series on the Middle Ages, the Early Middle Ages course was actually released much later, in 2004.) Daileader didn’t disdain those instructional approaches, he also made sure to share plenty of information about marginalized people of the Middle Ages and about aspects of culture that have, in fact, died out.Įxcellent Survey This is my second course with Professor Daileader and I really enjoyed this follow-up to his Early Middle Ages. He revealed that he had been intentionally trying to present medieval history somewhat differently than through the long-popular approach of academic historians to focus on the stories of famous and powerful individuals and on centuries-old political and cultural developments that still resonate in modern society. It was during the 24th lecture, “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” that I understood why this professor’s lectures had seemed so special. Daileader frequent thank-yous for surprising me with what seemed like a fresh selection of information and an innovative style of analysis over the first 23 lectures. I thought that I already knew a lot about the Middle Ages, from university courses attended and Great Courses purchased and viewed, but I found myself mentally sending Dr. Daileader’s short reviews are so exceptionally good that I welcomed them in this particular case. With some others of the Great Courses, I’ve felt that it was generally unnecessary for a professor to begin each lecture with a review of what was taught last time, since these are not in-person classes, and I could “rewind” recorded courses for myself anytime I needed to review anything however, I want to state that Dr. The course guidebook is a fine one, complete with glossary, timeline, biographical notes, suggested readings, and an extensive bibliography. Accompanying visual materials are not abundant, though they are appropriate and helpful. Philip Daileader proves to be an insightful, well-prepared, easy-to-understand, and witty presenter of the course content. Easy to Understand These are 24 highly recommended lectures on European history of the 11th–13th centuries.
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