
Sex in the Middle Ages
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $9.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jennifer McNabb
About this listen
Sex. The word makes some people giggle or blush, while others may draw back in discomfort. Whatever the reaction, whether positive or negative or a confusing mix of both, it’s rarely neutral. But sexual intercourse is a basic biological fact of life—and none of us would be here without it.
So, why do we find it so difficult to talk openly about sex? Where do the many rules and taboos surrounding sex and sexuality come from? How is it that a basic biological act can be so fraught with cultural, social, and moral complications?
In truth, much of our reticence in discussing and acknowledging the realities of sex comes, at least in part, from a unique time and place: medieval Europe. In the 12 episodes of Sex in the Middle Ages, Professor Jennifer McNabb and a panel of experts in medieval history and literature will take you back to the period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance to explore the ideals and realities of sex and sexuality. As you’ll learn, the rise of Christianity as not just a religion but a powerful political institution irrevocably influenced both the practical and moral dimensions of sex for centuries. And you may be surprised to see how much medieval views of sex continue to influence us today.
From the crowned heads of Europe to the lowliest serf, sex and its consequences affected everyone. After all, for people in the Middle Ages, sex could determine the fate of a kingdom and the state of your immortal soul. With so much on the line, is there any doubt that sex occupied the medieval mind and became a focal point of politics, literature, art, and so much more? This deep-seated preoccupation means that looking at the past through sex and sexuality opens doors into so many other dimensions of medieval life and offers a fresh new perspective on history beyond the big events and famous names we are familiar with.
©2024 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2024 The Great CoursesListeners also enjoyed...
-
How to Survive in Space
- By: Ronke Olabisi, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ronke Olabisi
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spaceflight is notoriously dangerous. Beyond launch mishaps and equipment failures, astronauts face serious health problems from long-term weightlessness and high-energy radiation. Not to mention, the space environment is a near-perfect vacuum that can quickly kill anyone who is unprotected. Drawing on the hard-won insights of NASA astronauts and space researchers, this 12-lecture course presents the perils of spaceflight and what experts have done to make them survivable. It also deals with livability in space, including nutrition, sleep, environmental control, and personal hygiene.
-
-
Decent overview of space travel hazards
- By Historian1912 on 08-09-24
By: Ronke Olabisi, and others
-
London in the Time of Dickens
- By: Lillian Nayder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lillian Nayder
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.
-
-
The book read like an interesting Biography and at the same time it painted what was going on in London at that time !😊
- By miriam wismar on 12-02-23
By: Lillian Nayder, and others
-
10 Great What-Ifs of American History
- By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Adam Jortner
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Accompanied by a selection of guests, Professor Jortner takes you through a mind-bending exploration of the history that could have been. Captivating storytellers and imaginative thinkers, these experts show how history is contingent on split-second decisions, near misses, and sheer dumb luck. By reflecting on what didn’t happen, 10 Great What-Ifs of American History gives you new insights on what did happen—and the impact on our world today.
-
-
Overacting and Multiple Narrators Distracting
- By homedaddy on 05-09-24
By: Adam Jortner, and others
-
How Memory Works and Why Your Brain Remembers Wrong
- By: Gabrielle F. Principe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle F. Principe
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Natasha on 01-20-24
By: Gabrielle F. Principe, and others
-
Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
- By: Prince Ea, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Prince Ea
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.
-
-
Ooh my gosh, best course I’ve listened too
- By Margie on 11-08-23
By: Prince Ea, and others
-
The Story of Human Language
- By: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
You'll Never Look at Languages the Same Way Again
- By SAMA on 03-11-14
By: John McWhorter, and others
-
How to Survive in Space
- By: Ronke Olabisi, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ronke Olabisi
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spaceflight is notoriously dangerous. Beyond launch mishaps and equipment failures, astronauts face serious health problems from long-term weightlessness and high-energy radiation. Not to mention, the space environment is a near-perfect vacuum that can quickly kill anyone who is unprotected. Drawing on the hard-won insights of NASA astronauts and space researchers, this 12-lecture course presents the perils of spaceflight and what experts have done to make them survivable. It also deals with livability in space, including nutrition, sleep, environmental control, and personal hygiene.
-
-
Decent overview of space travel hazards
- By Historian1912 on 08-09-24
By: Ronke Olabisi, and others
-
London in the Time of Dickens
- By: Lillian Nayder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lillian Nayder
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.
-
-
The book read like an interesting Biography and at the same time it painted what was going on in London at that time !😊
- By miriam wismar on 12-02-23
By: Lillian Nayder, and others
-
10 Great What-Ifs of American History
- By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Adam Jortner
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Accompanied by a selection of guests, Professor Jortner takes you through a mind-bending exploration of the history that could have been. Captivating storytellers and imaginative thinkers, these experts show how history is contingent on split-second decisions, near misses, and sheer dumb luck. By reflecting on what didn’t happen, 10 Great What-Ifs of American History gives you new insights on what did happen—and the impact on our world today.
-
-
Overacting and Multiple Narrators Distracting
- By homedaddy on 05-09-24
By: Adam Jortner, and others
-
How Memory Works and Why Your Brain Remembers Wrong
- By: Gabrielle F. Principe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle F. Principe
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Natasha on 01-20-24
By: Gabrielle F. Principe, and others
-
Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
- By: Prince Ea, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Prince Ea
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.
-
-
Ooh my gosh, best course I’ve listened too
- By Margie on 11-08-23
By: Prince Ea, and others
-
The Story of Human Language
- By: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
You'll Never Look at Languages the Same Way Again
- By SAMA on 03-11-14
By: John McWhorter, and others
-
Crimes of the Century
- A Selective History of Infamy
- By: Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Richard B. Spence
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Delve into some of the most infamous, ghastly, and mysterious crimes of the last hundred-odd years in Crimes of the Century: A Selective History of Infamy. Taught by Professor Richard B. Spence of the University of Idaho, this enthralling course gives you a dozen case studies of murders most foul. From an intriguing Irish domestic murder to a world-shaking political assassination, this course gives you an inside look at some of the most heinous and maddeningly unknowable crimes in modern history.
-
-
Best Great Courses Lecture There Is
- By Justin on 07-21-21
By: Richard B. Spence, and others
-
Forgotten America
- Rediscovering Events That Changed the Nation
- By: Rachel Michelle Gunter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Rachel Michelle Gunter
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Forgotten America: Rediscovering Events that Changed the Nation, turn your attention to the unfamiliar in United States history with historian and author Dr. Rachel Michelle Gunter.
By: Rachel Michelle Gunter, and others
-
Gut Health Explained
- By: Gabrielle Fundaro, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Fundaro
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 12 fascinating lectures of Gut Health Explained, Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro shares the latest scientific knowledge about the trillions of organisms that live in your gut. In this course, you'll learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of gut microbiome science while gaining a deep understanding of the intricate interplay between you and your microbiome.
-
-
Outdated but fine
- By Ryan Meunier on 03-13-25
By: Gabrielle Fundaro, and others
-
Stories of America’s National Parks
- By: Megan Kate Nelson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Megan Kate Nelson
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many Americans remember a family road trip to visit one of our 63 national parks. Why did Americans start preserving these sites of natural and historic interest? How were these parks selected, and what steps did conservationists, activists, philanthropists, politicians, and others take to protect millions of acres against the booming developments of an expanding nation? An award-winning writer, researcher, and American Studies scholar, Dr. Megan Kate Nelson tackles these questions as she takes you on a marvelous journey through some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
-
-
Interesting history
- By Secret Santa on 03-30-25
By: Megan Kate Nelson, and others
-
The Viking Age: New Perspectives on History and Culture
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vikings evoke striking images of horned helmets, battle axes, and merciless coastal raids. Remembered for their shocking brutality and impressive naval prowess, these marauding pirates from the North have inspired poetry, fantasy novels, plays, symphonies, and even comic book heroes over the last 12 centuries. But do any of these enduring tropes reflect reality? Who were the Vikings really? What do we know about the period that bears their name? Explore these questions and more in The Viking Age, a 12-lecture course that corrects the record on a transformative period in world history.
-
-
Up to date with new info
- By Amy Cassidy on 01-05-25
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
Underwater Archaeology
- Mysteries of the Deep
- By: Ashley Lemke, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ashley Lemke
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The work of archaeology uncovers fascinating vestiges of humanity’s past, greatly enriching our knowledge of our ancestors and ourselves. Over the last century, archaeologists have increasingly ventured underwater, making spellbinding finds and opening an incredible new frontier for archaeological discovery. In the 12 delightful and eye-opening lectures of Underwater Archaeology: Mysteries of the Deep, Professor Lemke, an expert underwater archaeologist working in the field, invites you to discover astonishing treasures of history that lie beneath the waves.
By: Ashley Lemke, and others
-
How the Great Migration Changed America
- By: Davarian L. Baldwin, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Davarian L. Baldwin
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the Great Migration, Black Americans led a mass exodus out of the South. But not all that glittered in the imagination was gold in the real world across the Mason-Dixon line. They contended with dim economic prospects and sparred with white labor unions. They also struggled to assimilate into established Black communities. Nevertheless, these 6 million Black migrants left an indelible mark on life in the United States. How the Great Migration Changed America explores the causes and consequences of the Great Northward Migration in 12 eye-opening lectures.
By: Davarian L. Baldwin, and others
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
How to Grow Anything
- Food Gardening for Everyone
- By: Melinda Myers, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Melinda Myers
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Whether you live on rural acreage or a city lot, virtually anyone can grow a simple garden - regardless of your skill level and busy schedule. How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone is a practical guide for cultivating fresh produce from seed to harvest. Taught by renowned horticulturist Melinda Myers, these 12 hands-on lessons are chock full of tips and tricks for novice gardeners and green thumbs alike.
-
-
a frustrating listen
- By Mystery Shopper on 05-31-19
By: Melinda Myers, and others
-
On Trial for Murder
- America’s Most Famous Murder Trials
- By: Douglas O. Linder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Douglas O. Linder
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On Trial for Murder: America’s Most Famous Murder Trials takes you inside the courtrooms and uncovers the stories of 10 of the most well-known trials since the turn of the 20th century. For this riveting foray into criminal law, your guide is Professor Douglas O. Linder, the Elmer Powell Peer Professor of Law at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law and creator of the Famous Trials website.
By: Douglas O. Linder, and others
-
England, the 1960s, and the Triumph of the Beatles
- By: Michael Shelden, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael Shelden
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How did four young men from a faded old seaport in Northern England lead such an epic musical and cultural revolution? Why could the story of the Beatles only have happened in such a charged decade? What remains to be said about this British band that hasn’t been said before? Questions like these lie at the beating heart of these 12 lessons that offer a fresh look at how this celebrated band became one of the most compelling voices against the status quo.
-
-
Delightful and smart
- By LEE on 12-12-20
By: Michael Shelden, and others
-
12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything
- By: Laura Helmuth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Laura Helmuth
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We’re living in a golden age of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Now, you have the chance to dig into some of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.
By: Laura Helmuth, and others
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Kinky History
- A Rollicking Journey Through Our Sexual Past, Present, and Future
- By: Esmé Louise James
- Narrated by: Esmé Louise James
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Esmé Louise James identifies the key tipping points that directly inform current beliefs around sex to place the past in conversation with the present. By educating ourselves about the weird, wonderful, and varied spectrum of human sexuality and experience, we can normalize and destigmatize sex, write people of marginalized sexual identities back into the pages of history, and build toward a more liberated future.
-
-
Love the content, not so much the author/narrator
- By Ashley Waldron on 06-29-24
-
The Viking Age: New Perspectives on History and Culture
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vikings evoke striking images of horned helmets, battle axes, and merciless coastal raids. Remembered for their shocking brutality and impressive naval prowess, these marauding pirates from the North have inspired poetry, fantasy novels, plays, symphonies, and even comic book heroes over the last 12 centuries. But do any of these enduring tropes reflect reality? Who were the Vikings really? What do we know about the period that bears their name? Explore these questions and more in The Viking Age, a 12-lecture course that corrects the record on a transformative period in world history.
-
-
Up to date with new info
- By Amy Cassidy on 01-05-25
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 24 revealing lectures of Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World reconstruct over a dozen biographies from the classical world—most of them little-known, some of them quite unlikely heroes. With Professor Emeritus Gregory Aldrete as your expert guide, you will meet the ambitious travel writers, dedicated engineers, careful cartographers, diligent farmers, woman philosophers, devoted wives, skilled military generals, African rebels, Persian kings, and impressive athletes who stood out among their peers centuries ago.
By: Gregory S. Aldrete, and others
-
The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women
- An Inside Look at Women & Sex in Medieval Times
- By: Rosalie Gilbert
- Narrated by: Cat Gould
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Inside The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women, a fascinating book about life during medieval times, you will discover tantalizing true stories about medieval women and a myriad of historical facts.
-
-
Very Well Done!
- By Stephanie Meier on 03-25-21
By: Rosalie Gilbert
-
How Memory Works and Why Your Brain Remembers Wrong
- By: Gabrielle F. Principe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle F. Principe
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Natasha on 01-20-24
By: Gabrielle F. Principe, and others
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
Kinky History
- A Rollicking Journey Through Our Sexual Past, Present, and Future
- By: Esmé Louise James
- Narrated by: Esmé Louise James
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Esmé Louise James identifies the key tipping points that directly inform current beliefs around sex to place the past in conversation with the present. By educating ourselves about the weird, wonderful, and varied spectrum of human sexuality and experience, we can normalize and destigmatize sex, write people of marginalized sexual identities back into the pages of history, and build toward a more liberated future.
-
-
Love the content, not so much the author/narrator
- By Ashley Waldron on 06-29-24
-
The Viking Age: New Perspectives on History and Culture
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vikings evoke striking images of horned helmets, battle axes, and merciless coastal raids. Remembered for their shocking brutality and impressive naval prowess, these marauding pirates from the North have inspired poetry, fantasy novels, plays, symphonies, and even comic book heroes over the last 12 centuries. But do any of these enduring tropes reflect reality? Who were the Vikings really? What do we know about the period that bears their name? Explore these questions and more in The Viking Age, a 12-lecture course that corrects the record on a transformative period in world history.
-
-
Up to date with new info
- By Amy Cassidy on 01-05-25
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 24 revealing lectures of Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World reconstruct over a dozen biographies from the classical world—most of them little-known, some of them quite unlikely heroes. With Professor Emeritus Gregory Aldrete as your expert guide, you will meet the ambitious travel writers, dedicated engineers, careful cartographers, diligent farmers, woman philosophers, devoted wives, skilled military generals, African rebels, Persian kings, and impressive athletes who stood out among their peers centuries ago.
By: Gregory S. Aldrete, and others
-
The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women
- An Inside Look at Women & Sex in Medieval Times
- By: Rosalie Gilbert
- Narrated by: Cat Gould
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Inside The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women, a fascinating book about life during medieval times, you will discover tantalizing true stories about medieval women and a myriad of historical facts.
-
-
Very Well Done!
- By Stephanie Meier on 03-25-21
By: Rosalie Gilbert
-
How Memory Works and Why Your Brain Remembers Wrong
- By: Gabrielle F. Principe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle F. Principe
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Natasha on 01-20-24
By: Gabrielle F. Principe, and others
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
How to Survive in Medieval England
- By: Toni Mount
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Imagine you were transported back in time to Medieval England and had to start a new life there. Without mobile phones, iPads, internet, and social media networks, when transport means walking or, if you're fortunate, horseback, how will you know where you are or what to do? Where will you live? What is there to eat? What shall you wear? All these questions and many more are answered in this new guidebook for time-travelers. This lively and engaging book will help the listener deal with the new experiences they may encounter and the problems that might occur.
-
-
I love Toni Mount!
- By Kindle Customer on 01-08-25
By: Toni Mount
-
London in the Time of Dickens
- By: Lillian Nayder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lillian Nayder
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.
-
-
The book read like an interesting Biography and at the same time it painted what was going on in London at that time !😊
- By miriam wismar on 12-02-23
By: Lillian Nayder, and others
-
Stories of America’s National Parks
- By: Megan Kate Nelson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Megan Kate Nelson
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many Americans remember a family road trip to visit one of our 63 national parks. Why did Americans start preserving these sites of natural and historic interest? How were these parks selected, and what steps did conservationists, activists, philanthropists, politicians, and others take to protect millions of acres against the booming developments of an expanding nation? An award-winning writer, researcher, and American Studies scholar, Dr. Megan Kate Nelson tackles these questions as she takes you on a marvelous journey through some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
-
-
Interesting history
- By Secret Santa on 03-30-25
By: Megan Kate Nelson, and others
-
Creation Stories of the Ancient World
- By: Joseph Lam, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph Lam
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Creation stories, found within many ancient cultures, are traditional accounts of the origins of the universe, the earth, and humanity. Often embodied as epic poetry, and told through the acts of divine beings, creation stories illuminate the values, beliefs, and creeds of the earliest civilizations. As such, these stories show us how early cultures made sense of the human condition, in theological, philosophical, and political terms. These 12 dynamic and thought-provoking lectures offer you a penetrating look at the origin stories of the great civilizations of the Mediterranean.
-
-
great survey of Ancient Creation stories
- By Anthony Alemany on 07-13-23
By: Joseph Lam, and others
-
Renaissance: The Transformation of the West
- By: Jennifer McNabb, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer McNabb
- Length: 26 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While it’s easy to get caught up - and, rightfully so - in the art of the Renaissance, you cannot have a full, rounded understanding of just how important these centuries were without digging beneath the surface, without investigating the period in terms of its politics, its spirituality, its philosophies, its economics, and its societies. Do just that with these 48 lectures that consider the European Renaissance from all sides, that disturb traditional understandings, that tip sacred cows, and that enlarges our understanding of how the Renaissance revolutionized the Western world.
-
-
Reads like a bad high school essay.
- By Matthew Dennis on 10-29-18
By: Jennifer McNabb, and others
-
Existentialism and the Authentic Life
- By: Skye C. Cleary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Skye C. Cleary
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 24 fascinating lectures of Existentialism and the Authentic Life, Professor Skye C. Cleary will lead you through the writings of many existentialists to help you understand how they addressed the biggest of all questions. Writing about love, death, sex, war, plagues, intrigue, murder, deception, and more, these thinkers guide you toward living an authentic and meaningful life in a world that often seems absurd.
-
-
Friendly presentation
- By Anonymous User on 06-04-24
By: Skye C. Cleary, and others
-
Understanding the World of Financial Markets
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you’re buying a home, saving for retirement, running a business, or just plain speculating, it’s important to understand financial markets. These are the engines of commerce in today’s world, powering economic activity and steering the flow of capital. Taught by Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University, Understanding the World of Financial Markets is aimed at the ordinary investor and surveys the impressive range of financial markets—from stocks and bonds to futures, options, real estate, private equity, and virtual assets.
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
-
The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research, celebrated medievalist Dorsey Armstrong shares the fascinating new story of this old pandemic—revealed by dedicated researchers working with 21st-century technologies and a knowledge of language and history that now provide input from all geographic areas of the medieval world. In seven engaging lectures, Professor Armstrong corrects explanations of the pandemic that are now known to be inaccurate and offers a more robust description of plague biology than has ever been known.
-
-
Too much personal commentary on current political
- By BF Palo Alto on 07-21-22
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
-
-
Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
The Once and Future Sex
- Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society
- By: Eleanor Janega
- Narrated by: Samara Naeymi
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Once and Future Sex, Janega unravels the restricting expectations on medieval women and the ones on women today. She boldly questions why, if our ideas of women have changed drastically over time, we cannot reimagine them now to create a more equitable future.
-
-
Get a Rosalie Gilbert book instead
- By Jennifer Martin on 07-11-23
By: Eleanor Janega
-
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest takes you through the mists of time to the rugged landscape of the British Isles. Over the course of 24 sweeping lectures, Professor Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America surveys the forging of a great nation from a series of warring kingdoms and migrating peoples. From Germanic tribes to Viking invasions to Irish missionaries, she brings to life an underexamined time and place.
-
-
Wonderful
- By Anonymous User on 12-10-22
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
History brought to life
- By Joshua on 07-10-13
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
Interesting historical stories
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A historical look at views on sexuality reveals some interesting tidbits: Middle Ages authors were very lewd. Religion (as always) ruins everything. I was amused that it was (supposedly) celibate priests who would be consulted for advice on sex.
This book helps provide perspective on today's arguments around issues of sexuality.
Provides perspective
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Boys Will Be Boys
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Three of the narrators stuck to facts based on stories and written accounts form the time period while one went beyond to insert ‘between the line’ assumptions throughout, as the book goes on I tended to cringe as she attempted to assert modern thinking of social justice, norms, themes into stories that didn’t mention them at all.
She asserts transgender, feminism, and other stretch themes through a 21st century lens that I think went beyond the other narrators perspective.
Laced with modern narratives
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The most obvious difference is that the instructor, Professor McNabb, isn’t front and center. She introduces the topic of each lecture and provides a bit of background information, but then she steps aside, allowing a handful of medievalist colleagues to take turns covering the content. Most of these scholars are excellent and highly professional, though one of them sometimes refers to sexual intercourse rather indecorously (and in this case, anachronistically) as “shagging” or “getting it on.”
Which brings us to a second significant difference – this course contains vocabulary and graphic descriptions of sex acts that some may find offensive. This was a bit of a surprise because The Great Courses has always been distinctly conservative in its editorial policy. Anyone familiar with Maureen Corrigan’s superb “Banned Books” course, in which a small number of expletives quoted from literature are muted by TGC censors, will know exactly what I’m talking about. There is no censorship of any sort in this lecture series, so if you are offended by blunt talk about sex, perhaps you should look elsewhere. Just know that if you do, you’ll miss out on a course that’s scholarly, informative, and at times lots of fun (particularly Lecture 6).
Scholarly and Fun
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Not a book or even a great courses lecture, but rather a podcast by women ranting about empowerment issues of the middle ages
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Confusing
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.