Renaissance: The Transformation of the West

I got through 8 lectures and I haven’t learned anything. Just a barrage of so many names and dates and places, that I couldn’t keep up! The presentation was a monotone, like someone reading from a text book. Perhaps it’s the style! I’m taking Professor Noble’s course on the Foundations of Western Civilization, and I find it totally engrossing! What a difference!

I am disappointed that the narrator is anti Christian. She uses the abbreviation C.E. rather than A.D.

Interesting topic presented in an engaging way. Very much recommended!

This course is so complete and I find it helpful to see the whole picture instead of just one aspect of the Renaissance. Also it is refreshing to have a feminist POV, a populist POV, and a non-idealized POV. So many things are covered in this course that have never been mentioned in other courses on the topic

Rather more than cuckoo clocks Jennifer MacNabb's critical, fluent, and illumination of the Renaissance is splendid. She has no illusions and her empathy as well as perceptive narrative is most impressive. Her awareness of the relevance of the Renaissance and its lessons brings to mind a scene in 'The Third Man' in which Harry Lime in the ferris wheel in Vienna's Prater makes the remark to the effect 'Italy with all the civil strife produced Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci whilst Switzerland with five hundred years of peace and democracy produced the—cuckoo clock!' It is grossly unfair to Switzerland and yet the observation has some merit and Jennifer MacNabbs dissection of the Renaissance vindicates the general if not the specific truth of that comment which incidentally does not appear in te original novella by Graham Green

I've been studying the Middle Ages, on Wondrium, as well as other sources for past several years. This, this course satisfies, almost perfectly, my desire for a grand course to connect the many parts I have been studying. I could not watch this at bed time, since I'd become so enthused about the presentation itself, not to mention the skillful amalgamation/integration of the many events. These events were nearly identical to the inanities of our present self annihalorty political scene. What is wrong with us? My med school class was similarly impossible to please!

I believe anyone genuinely interested in European history will really enjoy this. It is a scholarly presentation appropriate for an upper level undergraduate class. The Renaissance is covered comprehensively with consistent scholarly insights, and many interesting sidebars into political history, cultural history, art, religion, and music. The professional has a very nice cadence and presentation style, which makes the course pleasant to listen to. Moral of the story: If you enjoy European history you should appreciate this one.

My wife and I have viewed dozens of programs from the Great Courses. This is one of the best. Apart from Grant Voth's "History of World Literature", Professor McNabb's presentation is unsurpassed. Excellent course for people who have some knowledge of European history but lack advanced degrees.

The in depth understanding and research, as well as the smooth presentation of the professor, makes every lecture a true rewarding experience! Highly recommended.

The content of the lectures assumes a greater depth of knowledge than I possess. Clearly the professor is speaking to viewers with more than my modest knowledge of the renaissance. I assume this would be a college course aimed at juniors or seniors. Not freshmen. Never-the-less she keeps me entertained and able to understand the main points of each lecture. Glad I bought it. Glad it comes in short segments.