Stephen Fry // Live at the Sydney Opera House

Greg Craven // How the World Ends

I admit I haven't been very active lately on Think Tank but occasionally you come across something that really adds to some public discussion.



The strong point is not its scientific accuracy, for it has none, but its simple yet powerful reasoning…

Give it look!

Inside the Medieval Mind

Robert John Bartlett is a medievalist currently holding the position of Wardlaw Professor of Mediaeval History at the University of St Andrews' School of History.

Born on November 27 in 1950, he is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, specializing in medieval colonialism, the cult of saints, and England between the 11th century and the 14th century.

In 2008 he wrote and hosted a four-part television mini-series for The Open University broadcast by the BBC Four between April 17 and May 8.

Knowledge

In the first part Robert Bartlett investigates the world view as seen by the educated people of the Middle Ages between the 9th and 16th century, and the challenges brought upon them by the discovery of the world.

Sex

In the second part Robert gives us insights into how people of its time viewed love and marriage and experienced sexuality.

Belief

The Middle Ages (in Europe) are always depicted as dominated by the Christian religion. But what were the actual believes of the people?

Power

One of the major characteristics of this period was the strict social order set up by what is often called the feudal society. Robert Bartlett shows us his insights into the way the political and other order was maintained throughout the centuries and how it was transformed at the end of the Middle Ages.

Conclusion

Inside the Medieval Mind is one of the best introductions into the world of thought of an often misunderstood period - mistunderstood because it is so foreign to our own way of thinking at the beginning of the 21st century, more than half a millennium after the Middles Ages gave way to the Modern era.

Using real-life examples from ancient accounts, Robert Bartlett illustrates the medieval everyday world and contrasts it with the development of the best of the brightest at its time.

The best minds in theology and philosophy speak out, as do historians and commoners.

In almost four hours Bartlett displays the ways the average person feels about things and the best minds of its time reasoned about ideas. He never judges but tries to help us understand the basic frame of mind.

Links

BBC Four - Inside the Medieval Mind
OU on the BBC: Inside The Medieval Mind - OpenLearn - Open University
Inside the Medieval Mind (2008) - IMDb
Inside the Medieval Mind - DocuWiki
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Professor Robert Bartlett, University of St Andrews - School of History Staff Profile
Robert Bartlett - Wikipedia

Bibliography

Gerald of Wales
1146-1223

Published on June 10 in 1982
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland

Trial by Fire and Water
Mediaeval Judicial Ordeal

Published on October 16 in 1986
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland

The Making of Europe
Conquest, Colonization and Cultural Change
950 - 1350

Published April 1993
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland

England under the Norman and Angevin Kings
1075-1225

Published January 27 in 2000
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland

The Hanged Man
A Story of Miracle, Memory and Colonialism in the Middle Ages

Published February 2 in 2004
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland

The Natural and the Supernatural in the Middle Ages

Published March 17 in 2008
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland

Revised Editions

Gerald of Wales
A Voice of the Middle Ages

Published October 15 in 2006
Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Deutschland


Search for Robert Bartlett on Amazon UK, Amazon France or Amazon Deutschland.

The Sagan Series, Part 1: The Frontier Is Everywhere

Today I found The Sagan Series and as a fan both of Carl Sagan and space I will share with you exactly that: Space through the eyes of The Sagan Series. Official Website
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Tierischer Zungenkuss

Last weekend we spend a wonderful time in the Netherlands as guests with some new found friends.

While my fiancée spent her time looking at and for rabbits I made a few picture and this 3D video of our hosts' young calves.

Many thanks to Janneke !

Links

Angora konijnen van Janneke
Une Cerise au potager