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History. Nonfiction. HTML: 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 â?? 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.… (more)
User reviews
I haven't studied much history and almost nothing at all of British history. So when I found a used copy of this at the FOL sale, I snatched up this short (3 hour) lecture series, as I am a fond of the Teaching Company classes.
I think this is a good, working introduction to the
I also have a bit of understanding about how English became the complicated and beautiful language it is due the Normandy invasion as both language and customs were integrated by the British.
I enjoyed the lecturer, Jennifer Paxton, who has a great deal of enthusiasm and a bit of humor about her subject.
Recommended for those who'd like a basic working knowledge of the subject - probably not in depth enough for someone with previous study.