Great castles give us an invaluable window into the medieval world. In this compelling course, you’ll track British castle-building from the Norman invasion to the English civil wars and beyond, visit classic castles of Spain and Italy, explore the crusader castles of the Holy Land, travel to the monastic castles of Eastern Europe, discover France’s astonishing Renaissance châteaus, and much more.
Great Castles of Europe
Take a fascinating tour of Europe’s great medieval castles and discover the ways in which these astonishing buildings shaped the political, economic, and social evolution of Europe.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
the professor from
The History, Rise and Fall of Castles
Prior to this marvellous 24 lectures on castles, delivered by the passionate lecturer Victoria L. McAlister, PhD., I knew nothing about castles their construction, development and history. Now, I believe I could teach a 101 course on them. Victoria's delivery is rich in detail and superb research, and her personal excitement for castles is obvious. I enjoyed every aspect of this course, in particular the incredible graphics and photography of castles from around the world. Dr. McAlister not only provides outstanding detail about castles themselves, but also those who lived in and around. This is a wonderful course to just sit back and enjoy. There is zero slide or screen reading by Victoria! I highly recommend this course and look forward to future courses from Dr. McAlister. It is worth the investment.
Date published: 2024-10-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
CocoaSwann from
Really good lecture series!
For history/architecture nerds, like myself. Started with Frederick II's Castel and it was truly fascinating. Was only surprised that the Professor did not mention Pietro della Vigne, who was Frederick's "chief of staff" - made famous by Dante Aligheri. Looking forward to listening to all of the other lectures.
Date published: 2024-10-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ascholarlyskater from
Thoroughly enjoyed this course!
I really enjoyed this course and learned loads from it. Professor McAlister is a knowledgeable, charismatic, and engaging teacher, and her enthusiasm for castles is really contagious. I appreciated how she was able to discuss the military nature of castles and the many conflicts they were involved in without making the course overly violent or brutal in tone - something I was a little worried about going into this topic. I also enjoyed the inclusion of castles from a wide range of geographic locations, not just the usual few western European nations, as well as the mixture of more famous and lesser-known examples. I hope The Great Courses will consider producing more programs by this professor.
Date published: 2024-10-03
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Vaheteiole from
Interesting topic
I liked it. It's well organised and narrator is well spoken. I've been to some of the castles mentioned here. Plan to visit the rest.
Date published: 2024-10-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Rebecca23 from
Fantastic course on Castles
I loved this course. Victoria is a great narrator. I love her spirit and enthusiasm about her course. Lots of pictures! So far she is one of our favorite narrators. I like the fact that she visited most of the castles herself.
Date published: 2024-10-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Lyonness from
Comprehensive
I loved the Great Castles series. Apparently, I didn't know much about them because I learned a lot about terminology, the different styles, periods and uses. Professor McAlister seemed a little uncomfortable initially but soon settled into a friendly jovial presentation. She seems like someone who'd be fun to roam ruins with.
I recommend this to people who are interested in actual castles, not so much fans of Game of Thrones and the like.
Date published: 2024-09-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Retired But Still Learnin from
Almost Perfect
I would review this course with 4.95 stars. The professor good-naturedly dispels fairy tale conceptions of castles with a heavy dose of vocabulary and background regarding the threefold purposes of castle constructions. There were many delightful and illuminating surprises, such as materials and appearance of "the castle." The professor linked these matters to the sweep of European history, especially around conquest and administration of the land holdings. She included delightful doses of "lifestyles of the rich and famous" with glimpses of what went on inside the castles, not the least of which were basic human activities inside such sites as the garderobes.
I loved every lecture except the gratuitous 23rd lecture. Though she tried to justify it as a prod to academic research into the impact of African castles on global history, this lecture was flat-out modern academia virtue signaling. As a child of an academic, I am frequently annoyed by academics' ironic hewing to this era's propaganda campaign to insert every opportunity to remind white people of their guilt. I hoped this professor's good-natured presentation style would resist the zombie pressure on academics to conform to the unthinking virtue-signaling mindset. But that lecture alone subtracts .05 star from an almost flawless and still-worthwhile course. It is still worthwhile. But stand on notice, academic class and Great Courses, that critical thinking demands skepticism of divisive adherence to virtue-signaling conformity.
Date published: 2024-09-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Prospero1962 from
Don't expect a Great Tours series
This is a terrific series of lectures that takes you around Europe. And while it is true that each lecture focuses on a castle or two, it is not about touring the castle. Rather, this is a series about the history of castles- what makes a castle a castle. The photos, illustrations, and artwork greatly enhance this series. I flew through it in a week or so.
Date published: 2024-09-07
Overview
About
Victoria L. McAlister is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Towson University. She received her PhD in History from Trinity College Dublin. She is the author of the book The Irish Tower House and is the general editor of Eolas: The Journal of the American Society of Irish Medieval Studies. She also writes about castles and related topics in a regular column for Medieval Warfare magazine. She has received several teaching awards, including the Southeastern Medieval Association’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
Trailer
01: Castles for Defense and Château Gaillard
Begin with a look at how historians and archaeologists define castles and at the misleading narrative that has often surrounded their history. At Château Gaillard in France, built by King Richard Lionheart of England, study the many defensive features of the edifice, such as curtain walls, towers, crenellations, baileys, and gates, and consider the deterrent roles of castle architecture.
35 min
02: Castles for Residence and Enjoyment
Look behind the walls and parapets to the areas of castles reserved for residential life, from the central hall and its communal uses to the kitchens and cellars; the main tower, home to the castle lord and family; and residential areas for people of lesser rank and servants. Take account of the often-elaborate furnishings of castles, in their role as homes to many people serving many functions.
32 min
03: Castles for Administration and Slot Loevestein
Explore the vital ways in which castles served administrative roles. Learn about their core function as landed estates within the medieval agricultural economy, and in broader areas such as local governance; tax collection; and as judicial courts, prisons, and religious centers. Visit Slot Loevestein in the Netherlands and trace the many administrative roles it played across its history.
31 min
04: Hen Domen and Earth-and-Timber Castles
Investigate the history and lore of earth-and-timber castles, which flourished alongside the better-preserved masonry castles. Encounter the two subtypes, motte and bailey and ringwork castles, and track their architectural features, organization, and how life was lived within them. Travel the site of Hen Domen in Wales, visualize its many buildings, and relive its colorful and dramatic history.
31 min
05: Spanish Castillos, Alcázares, and Alcazabas
Discover the spectrum of castle types that proliferated on the medieval Iberian peninsula. Trace the history of the region, and the mix of Muslim and Christian kingdoms that produced the alcazaba (fortress/citadel), alcázar (castle or palace) and castillo (Christian-built castle). Visit impressive examples such as the Alcazaba of Almeria, the walled city of Avila, and the Alcázar of Seville.
33 min
06: Norman Donjons and the Tower of London
Enter the world of the Normans, great castle builders of Britain and beyond. Learn how the Normans took stone castles to new heights, constructing numerous urban fortifications focused on a central tower or donjon. In the examples of the Tower of London and Colchester Castle, study the iconic features of Norman castle architecture, edifices designed to be imposing symbols of authority.
28 min
07: Women in Castles and Castle Roche
Though their male inhabitants draw much focus, women were integrally involved in life within castles. Learn about women in the medieval workforce, and their many roles on manorial estates. Take account of women as landowners and castle holders—women who owned, ruled over, and defended castles militarily. Look in depth at the example of Castle Roche in Ireland, built by Lady Roesia de Verdun.
31 min
08: Crusader Castles and Crac des Chevaliers
Travel to the dramatic era of the Crusades, and the swath of castle-building that took place in the crusader kingdoms of the Mediterranean. Study the roles of these castles in crusading, many under the rule of military orders such as the Hospitallers. At the stunning Crac des Chevaliers in Syria, tour the site and note the innovative defensive features that influenced castle-building in Europe.
31 min
09: Frederick II and Castel del Monte
Envision the world of the remarkable Frederick II, 11th-century Holy Roman Emperor and massive landholder in Italy and Germany. Trace the events of his action-filled life, and the many castles he held and influenced. Take a detailed look at his masterpiece, Castel del Monte, built as a royal pleasure palace to indulge his passion for hunting, and study its unusual octagonal, geometric design.
31 min
10: Monastic Castles of the Baltic and Cesis
Here, follow the Christian Crusades of the Baltic, which saw many crusader castles built by military-monastic orders such as the Brothers of the Sword. See how these wars of conquest, conversion, and colonization transformed the region, and visit the much-excavated Cēsis Castle. Note what archaeologists have learned about the castle, its inhabitants, and its history as a major center of power.
32 min
11: Malbork and the Teutonic Castles of Prussia
The military order of the Teutonic Knights made major incursions into Prussia, continuing castle-building in the Northern Crusades. Observe the fusion of military and religious design that makes these castles distinctive. At Malbork, one of the largest castles in the world, tour the high, middle, and low castle areas, and explore the diverse architectural program of the massive site.
31 min
12: Caernarfon and Edward I’s Welsh Castles
The magnificent Caernarfon Castle brings alive the 13th-century annexation of Wales by the English crown, and the castle-building undertaken by king Edward I to consolidate his hold on the region. View Caernarfon’s figure-eight layout, polygonal towers, gatehouses, and royal apartments, and grasp the deliberate symbolism of its architecture which functioned as a weapon of propaganda.
31 min
13: Lordly Landscapes and Leeds Castle
Castles often transformed the landscapes that surrounded them. Take account of how castle lords created estate landscapes designed to extract the potential of the land, as well as landscape features related to pleasure pursuits and the assertion of power, from orchards and ornamental gardens to deer parks, private forests, and high-status animal husbandry such as fishponds and dovecotes.
31 min
14: Bodiam and the Symbolic Power of Castles
The power of castles as symbols—of authority, of power, of social identity, and more—is an integral part of their story. Look into the features of defensive fortifications with an eye toward what they convey to viewers, versus their practicality. At Bodiam Castle in England, consider two differing interpretations of the structure: as a real military defense and as a purely symbolic set piece.
30 min
15: Carcassonne, Visby, and Urban Fortifications
Discover how urban fortifications fit into the history of castles. At Visby in Sweden, learn about the amazingly diverse functions city fortifications could play. Then encounter France’s Carcassonne, one of the most famous fortified cities in Europe. Trace its remarkable history, the building of the iconic walled city, and follow the longstanding controversy surrounding its restoration.
33 min
16: Widows, Inheritance, and Chepstow Castle
Delve into the history of medieval inheritance and succession as it affected women, who often inherited castles and lands. See how heiresses could become economic and political pawns. Study the case of Isabel de Clare, heiress to vast lands and castle estates crossing national boundaries, who resourcefully managed her holdings, including the luxurious rebuilding of Chepstow Castle in Wales.
33 min
17: Hamlet’s Kronborg and Toll Castles
With the proliferation of medieval trade, learn about the core role castles played in revenue collection, as lords assessed tolls to traveling merchants. At Kronborg Castle in Denmark, immortalized as Elsinore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, take in the sumptuous architecture of the edifice, and note its strategic location on the Oresund waterway, as a toll and customs collection point for ships.
32 min
18: The Alhambra and Later Spanish Castles
Trace the long era of the Reconquista in Spain, as Christian rulers fought to reclaim Muslim-held territories on the Iberian peninsula. In the wake of the conflict, witness the fusion of Islamic and Christian influences the produced the uniquely beautiful castles of Spain. In Granada, tour the fortress-palace complex of the Alhambra, and savor the extraordinary decoration of the palace interiors.
33 min
19: Bran, Corvin, and Castles of Transylvania
Transylvania offers a key example of mythmaking surrounding castles. Look into the history of castles in Transylvania, as they protected border areas that were vulnerable to invasions. Investigate the misidentification of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with the ruler Vlad Tepes and with the imposing Bran and Corvin castles, both of which have been marketed to tourists as connected with Dracula.
32 min
20: The Paston Saga and Caister Castle
England’s Claister Castle is uniquely noteworthy because of the 930 surviving letters of the Paston family, which tell the incredible story of their lives in the 15th century. Follow the drama of the family and their relationship with the castle through wars, political upheaval, and intrigue. Through the letters, learn rare details of daily life within a medieval castle and estate.
32 min
21: Châteaus of the French Renaissance
The Renaissance châteaus of France were creations of palatial splendor, which held huge symbolic power while their defensive functions receded. Encounter the formidable personality of French queen Catherine de Medici, and her remarkable building projects, featuring her richly decorated palaces in Paris and her expansion and opulent additions to the grandiose château of Chenonceau.
33 min
22: Tower Houses and Kilcolman Castle
In the late Middle Ages, chart the rise of tower houses, small defensive towers built as private homes by the emerging merchant class and gentry, as well as by churchmen and some nobles. Study their spread in Ireland in the case of Kilcolman Castle, the tower house of famous poet Edmund Spenser. Visualize the structure and features of the castle, typical of this later form of castle-building.
32 min
23: The “Slave Castles” of West Africa
Witness how Europeans brought castle-building traditions to the slave trade on the West African coast. Explore the fortified trading outposts that made use of curtain walls, towers, and battlements, highlighting Elmina and Cape Coast castles, as they served as dehumanizing holding centers for transporting the enslaved. Assess scholarly debate as to whether these buildings qualify as castles.
32 min
24: Neuschwanstein and the Romance of Castles
In the aftermath of the age of castles, learn how medieval castle architecture found new life in European palaces and mythologized versions of castles. Visit Neuschwanstein, an example of 19th-century Romantic revivalism created by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. At this fanciful and picturesque palace, contemplate the continuing fascination of castles, as tangible pieces of a distant time.
37 min
