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The History of the Renaissance World: From the Rediscovery of Aristotle to the Conquest of Constantinople Hardcover – September 23, 2013

by Susan Wise Bauer (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 434 ratings
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A lively and fascinating narrative history about the birth of the modern world.

Beginning in the heady days just after the First Crusade, this volume―the third in the series that began with The History of the Ancient World and The History of the Medieval World―chronicles the contradictions of a world in transition.

Popes continue to preach crusade, but the hope of a Christian empire comes to a bloody end at the walls of Constantinople. Aristotelian logic and Greek rationality blossom while the Inquisition gathers strength. As kings and emperors continue to insist on their divine rights, ordinary people all over the world seize power: the lingayats of India, the Jacquerie of France, the Red Turbans of China, and the peasants of England.

New threats appear, as the Ottomans emerge from a tiny Turkish village and the Mongols ride out of the East to set the world on fire. New currencies are forged, new weapons invented, and world-changing catastrophes alter the landscape: the Little Ice Age and the Great Famine kill millions; the Black Death, millions more. In the chaos of these epoch-making events, our own world begins to take shape.

Impressively researched and brilliantly told, The History of the Renaissance World offers not just the names, dates, and facts but the memorable characters who illuminate the years between 1100 and 1453―years that marked a sea change in mankind’s perception of the world.

22 illustrations, 96 maps
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Previous page
  1. Book 3 of 3
    The History of the World Series
  2. Print length
    816 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  5. Publication date
    September 23, 2013
  6. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.7 x 9.6 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0393059766
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0393059762
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers hoping for a glimpse into the life and times of Michelangelo and Da Vinci will be disappointed by Bauer's newest (after The History of the Medieval World): This is not a history of Çÿthe Renaissance.' Rather, it is a history of the world during… a rebirth of interest in classical learning. That said, this volume is still rife with captivating figures, momentous movements, violent wars, and climactic upheavals. Beginning with the 12th-century rise of the Plantagenets in England and ending with the 1453 Ottoman overthrow of the Byzantine Empire, Bauer ranges far and wide, touching on everything from the gruesome murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury; the ascendancy of the first king of the Incan Empire; the terrorization of the Asian Steppe by Mongol hordes; the relocation of the papacy from Rome to Avignon; the birth of the Inquisition in Toulouse, France; the beginnings of the African slave trade; and the bubonic plague's decimating sweep across Europe. In five sections (Renaissances; Invasions, Heresies, and Uprisings; Catastrophes; Regroupings; and Endings), Bauer covers a bewildering amount of territory in her attempt to offer a tantalizing global perspective of a tumultuous epoch. Unfortunately, she too often sacrifices depth for breadth. 22 illus. & 96 maps. Agent: Richard Henshaw, Richard Henshaw Group. (Aug.)

Review

Another expertly clarified primer by Bauer . A wide-angle, thorough world survey for students, complete with immensely useful timelines and maps. "

Another expertly clarified primer by Bauer.... A wide-angle, thorough world survey for students, complete with immensely useful timelines and maps.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition (September 23, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 816 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393059766
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393059762
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.47 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.7 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 434 ratings

About the author

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Susan Wise Bauer

Susan Wise Bauer

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Susan was born in 1968, grew up in Virginia, and was educated at home by pioneering parents, back when home education was still unheard of. She worked as a professional musician, wore a costume at Colonial Williamsburg, toured with a travelling drama group, galloped racehorses at a Virginia racetrack, taught horseback riding, worked in radio and newspaper ad sales, learned enough Korean to teach a Korean four-year-old Sunday school, and served as librarian and reading tutor for the Rita Welsh Adult Literacy Center in Williamsburg, Virginia.

In her less haphazard adult life, she earned an M.A., M.Div., and Ph.D. She has taught at the College of William & Mary in Virginia for the last sixteen years. Susan is married and the mother of four.

Susan's most recent book for Norton, The Story of Western Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory (2015), guides us back to the original texts that have changed the way we think about our world, our cosmos, and ourselves.!

Her previous book, The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had (2003), is a guide to reading the classic works of fiction, poetry, history, autobiography, and drama. Norton also published The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (with co-author Jessie Wise); originally published in 1999, this bestselling guide to education in the classical tradition was revised and updated in 2004 and again in 2009.

For Peace Hill Press, Susan has written a four-volume world history series for children, The Story of the World, for Peace Hill Press. Volume 1, Ancient Times, was published in 2002 (revised edition 2006); Volume 2, The Middle Ages, in 2003 (revised edition 2007); and Volume 3, Early Modern Times, in 2004. The final volume, The Modern Age, was published in 2006. She has also written a best-selling elementary writing program, Writing With Ease.

Susan is also the author of The Art of the Public Grovel (Princeton University Press) and many articles and reviews. Visit her blog at http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
434 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

doc peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars "renaissance" is a bit of a misnomer; an excellent world history nonetheless
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2014
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Bauer's book would be more appropriately titled "A History of the Late Middle Ages" - or, to be more Euro-centric, "The High Middle Ages," the book really ending when the Renaissance began (in 1453). For those seeking a book on the Renaissance proper, look elsewhere, but do give this marvelous history your attention as well. There is much to recommend here (the confusion of the time period not withstanding.)

First, this is truly a "world history" - not the typical Euro-centric history with the obligatory nod to civilizations in the Near East and Asia. While much attention is paid to the political goings on in Europe (about 45% of the book), attention and detail is also given to civilizations in Africa (5%), Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia (about 10%), India (10%), China and the Mongols (12%), the Near East and Byzantium (16%) and the Americas (2%). The narrative thread shows the growing interconnectedness between civilizations in terms of economics, culture, religion and politics.

Second, the depth and detail Bauer provides in relating a world history is astonishing. Each chapter is between 6 - 8 pages, but they are packed with information about political interrelationships and the aims, goals and hopes of various groups and families from popes to emperors to pretenders to the throne. This makes for a relatively fast-paced read, but it also gives a solid overview of the forces at play.

Finally, the writing is superb. Bauer's prose is fluid and geared to a general audience which makes the reading easy and entertaining. Her works cited is extensive and comprehensive with a super-abundance of really outstanding works for those interested in more detail on a given topic, time period or event.

In spite of my prickliness regarding the title, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a well-written history with a genuinely global scope.
93 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable, very informative.
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
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Was looking for a book specifically on European history during the Medieval ages and rather mistakenly purchased this book, which covered the world during the Medieval period, including Asia (northern and southern), India, Africa (primarily Western Africa) and Meso-America (Mayan and Incan) history. Superbly written and meticulously researched, easily approached, a tome from which I learned a great deal and am thus the better for it.
Not as socially/culturally focused as Barbara Tuckman's "A Distant Mirror" (a truly delightful book, even more easily approachable than Professor Bauer's and quite a pleasurable read), but so very informative.
3 people found this helpful
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Heidi
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2020
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Probably the best, most unbiased, least boring, narrative-style, chronological history series ever written. We have the ancient and Medieval volumes as well, and even my 13 yr old loves them. Some advanced vocabulary, but my 13-yr old son loves the books enough that he doesn’t mind looking up words as he goes (this is really something for a 13 yr old boy). They’re fun/rewarding words to look up. You can tell the author loves words, because she uses them in wonderful ways.
5 people found this helpful
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Michael Allan Dawson
4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, Lacks Range
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023
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Unless you’re only interested in power politics you’ll likely find Bauer’s history lacking. Saying that, when it’s good it’s phenomenal, like Game of Thrones come to life.
One person found this helpful
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jdmcox
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021
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This, along with the two preceding histories, is the best history I've ever read, and I've read a lot of history: serious histories of England, France, Germany, and Italy, and popular histories of people and events in those countries. These histories beat them all. I also read part of a history of India (too depressing), and a good but short history of China. I HOPE there will be further volumes continuing these histories. I believe that with 1453, history begins to be less gruesome in general. I'm ready for happier endings, as I'd guess the author would be. But gruesome or not, I really was happy to read so much of what I'd never known, and which was always interesting.
7 people found this helpful
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Gerard A. Proudfoot
5.0 out of 5 stars Coffee with Susan
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2013
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This is the third volume of Prof. Wise-Bauer's work that I have read and they just keep getting better. Each volume is written in the same format with chapters varying from a few to just enough pages to give the reader the basis for further reading if they so choose. Like the volumes on ancient and medieval history the author guides the reader through the most important events, sources her narrative, hitting the high points before moving on. The style is just as relaxed, almost conversational, the pages - and years - curling back with ease, the content sitting comfortably in the forefront of the mind awaiting digestion.

I sat down on a Sunday morning to begin this read and by early afternoon had already made my way through nearly half the book. This volume is not as large as the previous but the time period is not as broad in scope as before either. As with previous works the Renaissance has something for everyone and will make an attractive addition to one's shelves. Well worth the time invested in having coffee with Susan.
16 people found this helpful
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bubbler
5.0 out of 5 stars third in a trilogy
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
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This is the third in a trilogy by the author of world history-a simple overview.
One person found this helpful
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Lester Aponte
5.0 out of 5 stars Good But Short
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2013
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The latest installment in Susan Wise Bauer's series on the History of the World is just as well researched and entertaining as the previous volumes. I could not help but notice, however, that it is much shorter. The cut off point (the fall few Constantinople) seemed odd too. Why not the end of the reconquista and the discovery of the new world? I was left with the impression that her editors are looking to cash in on the unusual popularity of her work. That said, this is a must read. More so if you have read her other books. Ms. Wise Bauer makes history come alive. She is thorough but never tedious. And she has an uncanny ability to weave together common threads in the human experience from the most ancient records through the present.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Gail Petrie
5.0 out of 5 stars History Of The Renaissance World
Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2013
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This book is well worth the read. As a high school history teacher, I have found this book to be incredibly useable in my courses. Not only is the book very readable, but provides interesting stories and antidotes that make the characters of this time period come alive. The author provides a large breadth of content addressing not only the history within the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, but also China and India, so that the reader gets a full overall picture of what was happening in the 'world' at this time in history. The use of maps and timelines are a welcome addition to aid the reader in their understanding of the content. Susan Wise Bauer is my go-to-author for this time period. Whether it is her book on the Ancient World or the Medieval World or now the Renaissance World, these books are fantastic reading, not only for those in the teaching profession, but also for someone who has a passion for history, wants to learn about this time period or just wants a really good read.
5 people found this helpful
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Glenn
4.0 out of 5 stars Good worldwide history of 1100 to 1500 approx.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2014
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A good, easy to read overview of world history from 1100 to 1500 with plenty of maps and diagrams. This is a narrative history with little in the way of analysis of the reasons for what happened but given the scope of the book, it would have to be much longer for that. The author looks at different parts of the world at similar times so a chapter on Edward II might be followed by a chapter on the Sultanate of Dehli. I like the authors style-clear concise and easy to read. There's very little about how ordinary people lived here but then that's not what the book is about and if you want further information there are plenty of notes and plenty of sources cited at the back. Money well spent.
8 people found this helpful
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Kevin H
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a excellent book
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2015
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It's a excellent book that is easy to read. It's recommended you have basic knowledge of the time period or you may find yourself a little lost in the facts.
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Dave H.
2.0 out of 5 stars A step backwards.
Reviewed in Canada on November 12, 2019
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Meandering. Slow. Not as good as her first volume.
One person found this helpful
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