The History of the Renaissance World: From the Rediscovery of Aristotle to the Conquest

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.

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.

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.

Meandering. Slow. Not as good as her first volume.

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.