Great Castles of Europe [TTC Audio]

Great castles are invaluable historical artifacts, that give us an incredible window into the medieval world. Castles were part of the very fabric of medieval society, and profoundly influenced the political, economic, demographic, and social evolution of Europe.

In the 24 compelling lectures of Great Castles of Europe, Professor Victoria L. McAlister, of Towson University guides you through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, highlighting outstanding and historically significant castles of these extraordinary times:

· Castle Builders of Britain. Track British castle-building from the Norman invasion to the English civil wars. Study sites such as the famous Tower of London, and Bodiam Castle, an archetypal medieval castle that divides scholars as to its true purpose.

· Classic Castles of Spain and Italy. Trace the medieval history of Spain, where the mix of Christian and Islamic cultures produced the spectacular Alcázar of Seville and the great fortress-palace complex of the Alhambra. Also, experience Italy’s Castel del Monte, a royal pleasure palace built for Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II to indulge in his passion for hunting.

· Christian Fortresses of the Holy Land. Witness the proliferation of castle-building during the Crusades, in the crusader kingdoms of the Mediterranean. Take in the awe-inspiring Crac des Chevaliers, and its elaborate design and innovative military architecture.

· Monastic Castles of Eastern Europe. Delve into Latvia’s Cēsis Castle, administrative center of military-monastic orders and the site of battles and sieges, from the era of Europe’s crusades against pagan peoples.

· France’s Renaissance Châteaus. Visit the astonishing châteaus of France built as the age of castles waned, highlighting the majestic Château de Chenonceau, and the other building projects of French queen Catherine de Medici.

Great Castles of Europe offers you a deep and unforgettable encounter with some of history’s most remarkable buildings, and with the extraordinary human sagas that took place within their walls.