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In Inside the Medieval Mind one of the world’s greatest authorities on the Middle Ages, Professor Robert Bartlett of St Andrews University, investigates the intellectual landscape of the medieval world.
In this series he opens up the often surprising discontinuities and similarities between the medieval age and our own as he remarks:
“In many ways these were people very much like us, in terms of family, ambitions for children and the world of emotions. On the other hand, they inhabited a very different world, in which it was believed the dead visited the living, and where somewhere there lived a race of people with the heads of dogs.”
The series comprises four one hour programmes, each on a different aspect of medieval thinking: Belief; Sex; Power; Knowledge. During the series he visits numerous medieval locations, from Westminster Abbey to Pluscarden Abbey near Inverness, with wide use of readings from original medieval sources.
Since the Renaissance we have wanted to understand the world so that we can control it and make it work to our advantage. Professor Bartlett argues that the medieval world was not to be mastered, so much as contemplated.
Inside The Medieval Mind was first broadcast on BBC Four, 17th March, 2008. For further broadcast details, and to watch again where available, visit bbc.co.uk.
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Inside The Medieval Mind Episode Guide:

















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Inside the Medieval Mind - locations
This is a plea really - wouldn't it be nice when you get fantastic programmes like Inside the Medieval Mind, if programme makers put a subtitle to show us where the exterior shots were taken? some of us might like to go there, so it would be great if we knew where to go! Yes I am going to sign up for a poster,even though I don't really want one - I just want the name of the place on screen briefly - 2 seconds would do. So frustrating!
Comments on: "About the series"
Brightraven has started a thread discussing About the series.
i want to say something very important i think there are many historical mistakes in this series for example
the first mechancal clock was made by muslims in bagdad & the first one who discovered america wasnt cristopher columbus but also arabs & the first one who analysed the light & established the optics & also remove all the old myses was AL Hazan Ibn Al haisam not bacon your series must be subjective & to admit the favor of muslims for all the modern technology that we have to day & at the end i know that BBC is the most subjective channel & i am sure that you will take my comments into your consideration in the next series best regards & i hope you all the luck & success