Great Minds of the Medieval World

In this seminal period, towering figures such as Augustine of Hippo, Ambrose of Milan, and Thomas Aquinas worked to integrate the Greek philosophical tradition and the Christian theological tradition, forming a platform of thought and knowledge from which the modern Western world would take shape.

Medieval innovation also developed through a great cross-fertilization of thinking, involving the work of remarkable minds such as

Anicius Boethius, the Roman politician and philosopher whose work established a template of academic education that endures in the modern world;
Alhacen, the Islamic scholar who pioneered core theories of optics and is considered the father of scientific methodology;
Maimonides, the Jewish philosopher and jurist whose writings remain a core element of Jewish law and culture; and
Alfred the Great of England, a monarch who sought to better his world by spearheading an ambitious educational program of preserving and translating important texts.

The voices of brilliant women were also heard in these times, among them

Héloïse, the illustrious French scholar of classical languages and literatures, religious luminary, and one of history’s preeminent intellects; and
Christine de Pisan, who, defying tragic circumstances, became Europe’s first professional female writer, penning provocative and impactful works across a remarkably broad range.

In the Middle Ages’ foremost minds, we see the roots of numerous elements of today’s world—from the religious thought of Gregory the Great and Rashi to the enlightened government of Charlemagne and Lorenzo de’ Medici, the logical formulations of William of Ockham, and the literary creations of Dante Alighieri and Thomas Malory.

In the 24 lectures of Great Minds of the Medieval World, Professor Dorsey Armstrong of Purdue University guides you on a compelling journey into the lives of the vanguard thinkers of the Middle Ages. Employing a broad definition of greatness, this course discusses the era’s most outstanding innovators and visionaries whose great contributions included facilitating the achievements of others. In this remarkable gallery of great minds, you’ll encounter the leading lights of a world-shaping era, exploring their unique contributions to knowledge and the growth of our civilization.

The Master Spirits of an Age

Beginning with the monumental Augustine of Hippo, whose life and writings laid a foundation for philosophical and religious thinking for centuries to come, you’ll study the contribution of intellects such as these:

The Venerable Bede: Come to grips with this extraordinarily prodigious thinker—the revered English monk, theologian, multifaceted writer, and teacher under whose influence England became one of the great centers of learning of the early Middle Ages.
Avicenna: Learn about this peerless Persian scholar, a mathematical genius and author of the foundational texts of medieval medicine, whose penetrating philosophical works deeply influenced the great intellects of the Islamic, Christian, and Jewish traditions.
Hildegard of Bingen: Take the measure of the divine visions and mystical writings of Hildegard, one of the Middle Ages’ great polymaths and one of the few figures to be officially sanctioned and authorized by the church; and explore her impact as a preacher and her remarkable contributions to medicine, music, and literature.
Peter Abelard: Learn about the hugely impactful works and theories of arguably the medieval era’s greatest intellect, a philosophical firebrand who was tried twice for heresy; and examine his controversial career and his tragic love affair with the brilliant Héloïse.
Thomas Aquinas: Encounter this weightiest of minds and religious scholar of vast influence, and investigate his core thought on Aristotle and his Summa Theologiae, containing perhaps the most famous arguments for God’s existence ever written.
Lorenzo de’ Medici: Witness how this extraordinary Italian statesman, as the de facto political leader of Florence, balanced ingenious diplomatic exploits with a visionary dedication to continuing education and passionate patronage of literature and art.

A Rich Diversity of Groundbreaking Thought

Across the span of the lectures, you’ll investigate medieval thinkers who grappled with a wide range of human concerns. In the realm of education, you’ll assess the pivotal achievements of figures such as Isidore of Seville and Peter Lombard, whose writings were cornerstones of academic training and scholarship during the Middle Ages.

The lectures also reveal a range of farsighted medieval statesmen. In addition to exploring the thought of Alfred the Great and Lorenzo de’ Medici, you’ll learn how the Frankish emperor Charlemagne used his intellect to build a state that supported theology and philosophy, sending scouts throughout the known world to gather, preserve, and translate texts, and bringing to his court the greatest living minds of the late 8th and early 9th centuries.

In the domain of art, you’ll grasp how the Italian poet Petrarch pioneered psychological realism in poetry, influencing Shakespeare. And you’ll observe how Dante and Chaucer developed literary strategies that allowed them to ruminate on the full spectrum of medieval society.

A Story of Astounding Human Dimension

As a highly memorable asset of this course, Professor Armstrong goes to great lengths to bring these historical figures to life in three-dimensional terms. A medievalist of profound knowledge and insight, she details not only their great works and intellectual contributions, but also conveys a vivid sense of their personal realities, ambitions, triumphs, and failings in an enthralling engagement with some of history’s most remarkable human beings.

Among many unforgettable moments, you’ll encounter the beloved Bede on his deathbed—still editing, translating, and teaching his students until his final breath. You learn of Thomas Aquinas’s incredible powers of mind and ability to dictate his unfolding thought to three or four secretaries simultaneously. You’ll learn how the symbiotic relationship between Abelard and Héloïse shaped their destinies and greatest achievements. And you’ll come face to face with Saladin, a great military leader and studious intellect who worked for peace, and whose extraordinary acts of chivalry to his enemies are perhaps unique in all of history.

In Great Minds of the Medieval World, you’ll enjoy a richly illuminating portrait of the human industry, vision, and phenomenal brilliance that is the gift and legacy of the Middle Ages. These thought-provoking lectures take you deeply to the heart of one of civilization’s most dynamic and formative eras.

1. Augustine of Hippo
2. Ambrose, Jerome, and Gregory the Great
3. Boethius and the Consolation of Philosophy
4. Isidore of Seville and the Etymologies
5. The Venerable Bede
6. Alcuin, Charlemagne, and Alfred the Great
7. Avicenna and the Golden Age of Islam
8. Alhacen and the Scientific Method
9. Averroes and Aristotelian Philosophy
10. Maimonides and Jewish Law
11. Rashi and Biblical Interpretation
12. Saladin and the Defeat of the Crusaders
13. Hildegard of Bingen
14. Bernard of Clairvaux
15. Abelard and Héloïse
16. Peter Lombard and the Sentences
17. Thomas Aquinas
18. William of Ockham and John Duns Scotus
19. Geoffrey Chaucer and Dante Alighieri
20. Francesco Petrarch
21. Lorenzo de’ Medici
22. Christine de Pisan
23. Sir Thomas Malory and Le Morte Darthur
24. William Caxton and the Birth of Printing