"Can Anyone Recommend a Good Documentary on Medieval Life?" Topic

I'm hoping one of you can provide some guidance here. My wife and I would like to teach our ten year old daughters about daily life during the Middle Ages and would love a documentary that provides a good overview of the subject. Things like food, clothing, work, marriage/courtship, homes, etc. would all be in the area we are interested in. To our surprise, we've had a hard time tracking one down. We previewed one by Terry Jones and found it, well, pretty awful honestly. I guess we're looking for a more traditional (more sedate?) approach--in the Richard Attenborough/National Geographic style perhaps. Surely they are out there! If one pops to mind we'd really appreciate the title!

Later, I'd like a good documentary on Medieval warfare also (Dad's got to have SOME input here), so if you know any good ones by all means pass them along! Thank you for any help!

The BBC "Farm" crew has not done any medieval based series,yet.The closest is The Tudor Monastery Farm,aired last December.I have not seen it ,but the other Farm series are delight.

Does it have to be a video? Dorling-Kindersley do some good books on the topic: link

We also have one about knights and one about castles. The 10-year-old and the 7-year-old both like them.

I second the BBC 'farm' series. The latest one is called "Tudor Monastery Farm" and is the earliest time period they have tackled.

The presenters are proper historians and archaeologists and know their stuff. You get a good balance of information and entertainment. While not about the medieval period, the Tudor series has a lot of info about how Tudor farm life changed from earlier practice.

While not a documentary, but a book; I recommend a Stephen Biesty's "Cross-Sections" "Castle" book. ISBN: 0 68 1 32019 2 , by DK Publishing. It is wonderfully illusterated in full color and features what it was like for many of the tradesmen, soldiers, the ladies and townsfolk of the period (1350). Should be able to find a copy in Walden's or other big named mall bookstores.

I have spent literally over 80 hours just looking at the illustrations with an eye towards integrating it all into a game. I turn 62 next month and this thin tome still captivates me with how life was in those days. Perhaps even more so as I now have been to many restored ones here in southwestern Germany.

The cutaway of the castle helps not only to show it's construction and maintenance, but where the household lived and how they lived….especially the servants and craftsmen of the outlying village.

Hope this helps. I think you will find this well serving for your purpose.

v/r
Tom Dye

High;y recommend "Tudor Monastary Farm"

A book as well: 'Life in a Medieval City' by Frances Gies.

Have you looked at Horrible Histories books and TV shows. While presented in a comedy manner they do give a good idea of manny of the gruesome realities of earlier ages.

terry Jones of monty python fame has a series called medieval lives which questions some of the established views of medieval life. its worth watching as a counter to some of the simplified views of how terrible things were. I think the whole series is on youtube.

I recently read a book called "A Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England" which was very informative and not a heavy read. I know it is not video, but might be worth looking into. Author's name is Ian Mortimer.

Allen

I was going to suggest Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail, but it probably won't meet your needs!

I show some segments of History's Worst Job's hosted by Tony Robinson of Black Adder fame in my World History class. The episode on the Middle Ages includes armor cleaning, leach collectors and felters. It's more presentable for children than the Terry Jones series, but the "ickiness" of it appeals to my ninth graders.

Game of Thrones?

If you can get a hold of old 60's and 70's LOOK AND LEARN magazine or its reissues.Plenty of stuff for all ages.Targeted the younger audience,primarily about history(mainly Briyish) and science.

I really appreciate all the ideas! First, as regards the book recommendations, the Gies books are excellent (Life in a Medieval Village/Castle etc.)--I'd forgotten about them and will have the girls read some pertinent chapters. The Time Traveller's Guide by Mortimer is one of my favourites--just so much good information there, and in an easily readable style. Tom, thanks very much for the tip on the Biesty book; I had never heard of it. This is one reason I love TMP. After posting this, I'm off to Amazon to see if I can find a copy.

Regarding the documentary recommendations, we'll have to look into the Farm series. Its being focused on Tudor times isn't too big a worry; many things would have been quite similar and the differences could create some good discussions. We'll look into the Horrible Histories also--the title makes me a little nervous, but it's worth checking!

As for History's Worst Jobs, this could have real potential. I used to be a teacher, so I remember how a certain "ick factor" can focus young people like nothing else. I certainly hope he includes gongfermor in his list!

Thank you again to all of you for taking the time to reply. This has been very helpful!

Don't be nervous about Horrible Histories! It started as a kids show but was so funny that it was watched by loads of adults as well. All the facts are accurate.

'Sir Baldrick's' Worst Jobs was very entertaining and is definitely worth a look!

link

link

The Luttrell Psalter video on youtube:
YouTube link

there are a bunch of other clips associated there too.

Cerdic--I'll settle down and give them a look. They do sound entertaining.

Pedrobear and bsrlee--Going Medieval and the Psalter videos both look perfect. Thank you all!

Join a good re-enactment medieval group, and spend some week-ends immersed in there (I mean, a group that is about normal everyday life with recreated period items, not only fighting and then drinking from beer cans).

Your daughter will love it – or loathe it;
your wife too;
and you too.

:)

Second Terry Jones