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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 (166 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.
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What listeners say about The History of the Renaissance World

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Byzantine history

Reader spoiled the enjoyment of this comprehensive saga by mispronouncing Byzantium as “Bizzantium” - 24 hours of irritation
Richard Crawford

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    4 out of 5 stars
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good but not quite as expected

my fault probably but was expecting much more on the Renaissance itself. That said a good history of the world as a whole in the centuries leading up to it. Refreshing for being not entirely eurocentric - still weighted that way probably due to the availability of accounts but a lot of Mongul, Chinese, Japanese etc history covered and useful in putting disparate pieces together. Some African and only a little South/central American bits but may be due to all sorts of reasons

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed

Good overview of the period in itemized chapters. Interesting and lively history. Thoroughly enjoyed.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Buy this Book!

The breadth of history covered here is huge. A retelling of world human history over centuries. There is some familiar history of Europe and the Mediterranean world but set in context of what was happening a the same time in India, Mexico, Korea among many others.
I found histories of regions and countries I knew little or nothing of. Also there were new stories and perspectives on more familiar history.
I did not agree with all of the conclusions but this is part of engaging with a history book.
If you want a big, broad sweep of history then get this book.

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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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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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    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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good

good nice enjo6 ys tb hi he tnn ge ykk g u j jh

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1 person found this helpful