The Dawn of Mediaeval Europe: 476-918


Read by Pamela Nagami

(4.6 stars; 62 reviews)

This volume by the British historian J.H.B. Masterman (1867-1933) is a short survey of the first four centuries after the fall of Rome. The author writes of Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths, who sought to impose order on a shattered Italy, of the rise of the Franks under Clovis, and of the resurgence of the Eastern Empire under Justinian and his general, Belisarius. At the close of the book, Charlemagne's descendants are wrangling for power among themselves, while, writes Masterman, from "the north came the Norsemen, ravaging and plundering along every river valley which their long ships could sail; from the south came the Saracens, the pirates of the Mediterranean, and ... a foe more fierce and implacable still appeared on the eastern frontier in the Magyars or Hungarians." - Summary by Pamela Nagami (6 hr 48 min)

Chapters

Ch. 1: Introduction 12:53 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 2: The Empire in 476 13:05 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 3: The Rise of Theodoric 13:34 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 4: The Gothic Kingdom in Italy 26:29 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 5: The Rise of the Franks 23:04 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 6: Justinian 20:12 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 7: Benedict of Nursia and Columban 13:17 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 8: The Rise of Mohammedanism 15:22 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 9: The Lombards in Italy and the Rise of the Papacy 22:11 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 10: The Mayors of the Palace 13:41 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 11: Charles Martel 15:37 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 12: Pippin, King of the Franks 12:24 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 13: The Pope, the Lombards and the Franks 22:21 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 14: The Iconoclastic Emperors 20:37 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 15: Charles the Great and the Lombard Kingdom 13:54 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 16: The Saxon Wars 10:32 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 17: Charles, King of the Franks 20:38 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 18: Carolus Imperator 21:32 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 19: Law and Administration in the Empire 11:07 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 20: Alcuin and the Revival of Learning. John Scotus 16:59 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 21: The Charlemagne of Romance 6:58 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 22: The Reign of Louis the Pious 12:54 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 23: The Break-up of the Carolingian Empire 23:18 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 24: The Norsemen, the Saracens and the Magyars 18:17 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. 25: The Dark Ages 7:10 Read by Pamela Nagami

Reviews


(5 stars)

This is a nice precis on the people and places of Europe, with a focus on English, Italian and French history. I especially enjoyed the chapter on the Vikings and Saracens, that was a better summary than I have seen elsewhere. PN, another 5 star job!

A LIGHT IN THE TUNNEL


(5 stars)

A very fine work which furnishes much_needed scholarly order for this chaotic period in the formation of modern Europe. The level narration by PN is always a plus.

Excellent overview, very well read


(5 stars)

Really enjoyed this book and the reader, learned a lot about a period I did not know much about.

Good narration & rich content


(5 stars)

Good narration & rich content