The Development of European Civilization

by Kenneth R. Bartlett

In almost every way that matters, historical Europe was the laboratory in which the world you now live in was conceived and tested. And you'll be living with the consequences for the rest of your life. These 48 lectures lead you through the doors of that laboratory and guide you through the development of Europe from the late Middle Ages through the eve of World War II. As you follow Professor Bartlett through the dramatic story of European history, you'll learn about the major ideologies and "isms" that bubbled forth from Europe's constantly fermenting cauldron of debate and conflict, including absolutism, scientism, rationalism, capitalism, nationalism, liberalism, and totalitarianism. You'll investigate the forces that intermingled to create the Industrial Revolution and the accompanying economic and social upheavals that would, in turn, create so many more. You'll also make sense of the European ideologies of government, including the rule of law, the concept of "the consent of the governed," taxation, an independent judiciary, and other concepts. You'll explore the new roles for religion in European life, from the end of the traditional union of altar and throne to great upheavals such as the Protestant Reformation and the Great Schism. And you'll witness the evolution of the European class system, which influenced the social forces that swirled around it just as much as it was influenced by them. Rather than offering a laundry list of dates, events, and famous individuals, Professor Bartlett leaves you instead with an understanding of historical and social causality. More important: He offers you the chance to experience Europe's development from a European perspective.

Genres: History, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Historical, European History

25 pages, Audiobook

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Kenneth Bartlett is a professor of History & Renaissance Studies at the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, where he served as the editor of Renaissance and Reformation/Renaissance et Reforme and president of the Canadian Society for Renaissance Studies. He has received multiple teaching awards and was appointed the first director of the Officer of Teaching Advancement for the University of Toronto. Professor Bartlett has written three books, including Humanism and the Northern Renaissance.

Reviews

[Chris Leuchtenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bartlet provides a cogent and always intelligent overview of European history from the middle ages to World War II. Of course, to cover such a long period, many important events must be excluded. For instance, the Mongol invasions of Russia, The Vikings, and the Norman invasion of England are not discussed at all.

However, he uses his time judiciously to cover many important topics, such as the development of feudalism and its gradual decline, the reformation and religious wars, and especially the gradual and halting movement towards democracy and the ever present risk of violent unrest.

The title is a bit ridiculous. This course focuses on political history and the structure of society and not at all on the arts and very little on the experiences of common people, let alone more modern considerations such as gender role changes. There are excellent and lengthy explanations of the impacts of the treaties of Westphalia and Versailles and the Congress of Vienna, but there is more to civilization than that.

Even science is discussed primarily as a prelude to the Enlightenment and thus to the French revolution and Napoleon. Subsequently there is a long, and to my view controversial, section about Darwin and the impact of social Darwinism on the development of nationalism and racism in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I highly recommend this as a concise and intelligent history of Europe, but as always one should listen with a critical mind.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better great courses I've listened too, It show the evolution of European thought from St Augustine/Francis to Darwin to Marx/Ingles. It emphasizes the enlightenment and Darwin a bit more then I would of liked and spent a little bit too little time on the middle ages but these are minor nitpicks in an otherwise great course.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of lectures on the origins of European history. Extremely detailed and informative.

[Hendrik Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

An idea focused history of Europe up until WW2.
Done by an eloquent and passionate presenter.

Started out very strong, giving a sense of continuity between the roman client system, and the development of manor style communities after the erosion of the empire. The medieval ages don't get much time, but it's a coherent history, alright. Economic developments are mentioned, as are broad currents in the change of attitudes, and the emergence of new groups of people(those darn middle class city dwellers), that were to be of import later on.
The lectures unsurprisingly shine when it comes to discussing the renaissance, as this is the professors main expertise.
Here we learn fun tidbits like that the diplomatic system, with diplomats and all, originated in the competing city states of Renaissance Italy.
To digress, the lecture course is full of curious facts like these, as I were to find out for example, that the term saboteur comes from ppl throwing their wooden shoes(sabos) into factory machinery to protest and hinder the replacement of their manual labour.

Still, I felt like they take a slight downturn when it comes to the enlightenment. I can't put my finger on it exactly, as it's been a while, but I remember feeling like here the selection seemed more eclectic, still relevant, but a little pulled out of context, and restrung a little loose.
I guess it's only 48 lectures after all, and the task to cover all of European cultural development is more than daunting, and the project inherently very focused on ideas, up to a fault perhaps. Tho here I recommend supplementing the course with "The foundations of western civilization II" by Robert Buchholz as it is more classically historically focused. i.e. more credence is given to material realities, and political events, rather than lofty things like intellectual trends, and the self consciousnesses of nations(tho in both cases a good balance is struck)

In any case, the series caught itself again from the small stumbling.
The industrialization, and the multiple ways aristocratic and boregoise society, the church, as well as the workers themselves reacted to it was covered very powerfully. At no point did the course feel disjointed here, and the turn into the 20th century made sense, and envoked such a vivid picture, that my mood took a bad downturn when the narration of WW1 commenced...

All in all:
I learned a lot, up to the very end,
and it reinforced my belief that sometimes one of the best things one can do is to listen to an excellent historian, like Bartlett, and learn about how the world came to be as it is today.
If not for it's own sake, and the amazing stories that are to be experienced, then for how this makes everything you learn about events, people, ideas, books, situated in or out of said historic happenstance make more sense.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good lecture series. Some of it was not my first time hearing this info, but a lot of it was. While I was expecting to get most of my wealth from what was taught about the Middle Ages, I actually had covered nearly all of it from other Great Courses history lectures and other sources. The gem of this book is what it covers from the late 19th century onward. I never previously understood just how fundamentally the Dreyfus Affair (which I only know through the film "The Life of Emile Zola") changed France even to this day. It dissects the state of affairs that not only led to WWI, but really dives into what nations other than Germany were going through between the wars. Ironically, this 48-part lecture series predates Brexit, so I wonder what conclusions Professor Bartlett might now reach in a 49th lecture.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid look at European history from the Middle Ages to WWII. While covering a long time period and a wide range of themes, it remains largely focussed on Central Europe and Britain, with the occasional look at Russia, Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. Apart from bringing up Sweden in a single lecture in connection to the 30 Years' War, anything north of Germany might as well not exist for the purposes of this lecture series... but sadly, that rather frequently tends to be the case with "European" history. A lot of interesting stuff, but I also found my attention wandering on various occasions. The lecturer's style could have been more engaging.

[Shalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great course. Highly recommend.

[Ian Lee]

Excellent detailed introduction to European history from the fall of the Roman Empire through World War II. Serves as a great refresher for important European events and people.

[Mark Lawry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best of the great courses I've listened to. As with all of these courses it covered a big picture view of 100s of years of Europe in 1/2 hour lectures. Each of these lectures could have been (and are) entire courses in themselves. WWII for example is just one 1/2 hour lecture. This would be a great course to listen to early in high school to understand how various issues fit together, the fall of Rome, feudalism, the catholic church, the Reformation, the crusades, the renaissance, the rise of banking, the industrial revolution. A must if you're about to visit anywhere in Europe. You'll add a lot to your hit list of things to visit and read about.

[Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't give 5 stars, but this was an excellent course!

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Great Courses offering, though the content is very interesting and comprehensive. The lecturer left something to be desired, in my opinion. Not anything bad, but just not my favorite.

[Kirill Igumenshchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This course stands out because it takes a perspective of following power and resources. the history makes more sense. Today's politics also makes more sense because now, I "follow the money".

This book and the hardcore history podcast got me interested in history.