Welcome to part four of 2022 Documentary Suggestions for the School Year. This time I will make suggestions for the Reformation and Post Reformation Era. Unfortunately, there have been some slim pickings in the past other than Tudors in England and I hope one day to expand this section. I did not want to overkill the Tudors in this section. There is one documentary series that if you can find it, you should show it: Lucy Worsley’s The Georgians about the Georgian Kings of England.
If I suggest a series, then pick an episode from the series to show in the classroom. I hope that this list helps teachers with their lesson plans for the school year! The Germans - Martin Luther and the Nation: YouTube Martin Luther's 95 Theses touched off a Religious Reformation that swept through Europe. It kicks off with his trial and eventual hiding in the German territories. The second part of this documentary tells the story of Luther’s marriage. This is an excellent introduction to the Reformation. The first part of the episode would be good to show in a Christian school. Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 David Starkey discusses the mind of Henry VIII, what made him the man he was. Starkey starts with Henry's childhood and how his mother impacted his views. Then goes into the impact of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon had on his life and the impact the divorce had on his mental state. Actors play the roles of the people in Henry VIII's life. Elizabeth I - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 David Starkey narrates the story of Elizabeth, from her growing up years, her time under the reign of Mary I, the start of her reign as well as her avoiding the issue of marriage. After her father’s death, she grew up in the household of Catherine Parr. He covers the rebellions, the religious settlement, as well as the Spanish Armada. This is an excellent documentary on Elizabeth I. Tales From Green Valley: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 A group of historians and archeologists work on a farm that was established during the Jacobean Period. They make repairs around the farm, raise animals, and live the way farmers lived during the Jacobean Period. They build a new barn as well as a new privy. They work the farm during a calendar year, except they do not live on the farm. At the end of the year, many of the buildings were restored. Germans: Frederick and the Empress: YouTube This is a German-produced English-language documentary about Frederick the Great and Empress Maria Theresa. They were the rulers of two German empires. When Maria Theresa became Empress, Frederick the Great invaded parts of her domain. She fought back against the Prussians. This documentary tells the story of the rulers who fought for supremacy.
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Good morning or afternoon! I am continuing the Documentary Suggestion Series for August. The school year will soon be upon us and I want to help teachers pick documentaries for the classroom, especially when there is a substitute teacher in the classroom. Today’s blog will feature suggestions on the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages.
If I suggest a series, then pick an episode from the series to show in the classroom. I hope that this list helps teachers with their lesson plans for the school year! DARK AGES Search for Alfred the Great: YouTube Neil Oliver explores the search for the grave of King Alfred the Great, the only British King who had the title "The Great." Oliver tells the story of what happened to the bones as well as the story of Alfred the Great. Scientists have been exploring a set of bones to determine whether or not they belong to Alfred the Great. It is an excellent look at the life of Alfred the Great. The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 The Last Journey of the Vikings is a docudrama series about the Viking People. They traveled widely and shaped European politics. What is the truth about the Vikings? In the Eighth Century, the Vikings started appearing along the coasts of Europe. With their fierce warriors, they gained a reputation as Europe’s terrorizers. They targeted monasteries because the monks could not defend themselves. Eventually, the Vikings’ strategy changed. They mixed with the powerful. So why did the Vikings become pirates? How did they spread their influence over Europe? Tune into this documentary to find out. Charlemagne and the Saxons: YouTube The Germans kick off with the story of Charlemagne. Charlemagne was the first European Empire builder. He conquered the Saxon people and spread Christianity throughout the Frankish Empire. The Saxons challenged him, however, they came to accept his kingship. He built grand buildings to help demonstrate his power. This is an excellent summary of what Charlemagne accomplished during his reign. Dark Ages: An Age of Light - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Was the Dark Ages an Age of Light? What happened when the Roman Empire collapsed? This shocking question is one that historian Waldemar Januszczak will answer. He travels around Europe, Africa, and Asia to discover the hidden secrets of the Dark Ages. Waldemar makes the argument that the Dark Ages were an age of light and artistry. The art never lies, the Dark Ages were not an age of darkness but an age of light. The Guerilla Base of the King - YouTube Our first episode of Time Team comes from Season 1, Episode 1. Tony Robinson is younger and has long hair. The Time Team goes to Somerset County and explores the base of King Alfred the Great. King Alfred the Great was fleeing from the Danes. The site they excavate was the base of King Alfred the Great. They are not sure what they will find on the field. Did Alfred the Great have a base on this Somerset Land? MIDDLE AGES Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Tom Pinfold, Ruth Goodman, and Peter Ginn explore medieval lives and how to build a castle. This series shows off one of the longest historical experiments in history. Pinfold, Goodman, and Ginn explore a variety of aspects of castle building. They kick off the series by establishing their base and then move on to doing building projects. This is a STEM and STEAM-heavy series. The Black Prince - YouTube The Black Prince was the hero to the English and he died young. He was a warrior. He lies in Canterbury Amber Buchart is going to have his cloth armor remade. This cloth armor identified who he was and was worn over metal armor. What will this cloth armor tell us about the Black Prince? Will Ninya be able to come up with a way to recreate this garment? How One Village Survived the Plague: YouTube Aired as Secrets of the dead on PBS, scientists and historians come together to figure out how one village survived the Black Death. They look at the family stories and genetics of those families. The historians look at the actions of the villagers to stop the plague from spreading in England. What are the implications of surviving the Black Death today? Could genetics prove that people could survive AIDS? Arnolfini - YouTube The Arnolfini portrait had a complicated interpretation for decades after it was painted. However, Amber Butchart shows the portrait in a new light: a middle-class couple showing off their wealth. It was considered one of the most complex paintings in Western Art. Capitalism was emerging during this period. Trade was having an impact on what was worn. A merchant class was growing showing social mobility. Amber focuses on the green dress in the portrait. It is a bonus that she loves the color green. Medieval Lives - A Good Birth, Marriage, Death - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Helen Castor uses the Paxton family story to explore how the medieval period dealt with birth, marriage, and death. She starts off the series with Margaret Paxton preparing to give birth. Castor discusses how religion was tied into birth, marriage, and death. She then traces Paxton’s marriage and finally concludes with death. It is a fascinating look at Medieval lives. Good morning teachers! Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year. Last year I did a blog post about my recommendations for what to show in the classroom during the school year. This year, I will do the same but this will be a general list of what can be shown in the classroom from Sixth Grade to high school and even college. Also, if appropriate you can show these documentaries in science, agricultural, English, or art classroom. I have published over 200 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list then you can check out my other reviews and make other picks.
If I pick a documentary series, then pick an episode to show in the classroom. Welcome to Part 2 of suggested titles for the Ancient World! ANCIENT EGYPT Engineering Ancient Egypt - YouTube Bettany Hughes explores the Great Pyramids as well as the construction projects of Ramses II and how they were used to make sure the pharaohs’ weren't forgotten. Hughes starts the series with the Great Pyramid, how the pyramids were built and how ordinary Egyptians came together to build the Great Pyramid. Then she explores Pharaoh Ramses and his desire to keep building. Egypt's Lost Queens: YouTube Professor Joanne Fletcher explores four of Egypt's forgotten queens. Their stories were hidden over the years and now Fletcher brings them into the light, including one Queen that you've never heard of: Arsinoe. She tells the story from the perspective of a mother, a consort, a diplomat, and a politician. Fletcher travels to the places where these women lived and shows what they did for Egypt. Immortal Egypt: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Joann Fletcher explores the history of Ancient Egypt over four episodes. She explores the height of Egypt's power, what caused Egypt to decline. She takes us to Egypt's beginnings and weaves a tale of glory followed by despair. She shows off grand monuments and the smallest finds. This is an excellent documentary series to show while students are studying Ancient Egypt. Cleopatra's Lost Tomb - YouTube Kathleen Martinez has a theory as to where Cleopatra was buried. She leads an expedition to find Cleopatra's lost tomb. She uses her skills as an attorney to test out her theory. She leads an expedition to the Taposiris Magna temple site. This site was previously excavated but never undergone a thorough examination. Now Martinez is discovering new things that are shedding light on the Taposiris Magna site. Ancient Egyptian Afterlife - Episode 1 Episode 2 In 1906 a group of Egyptologists discovered an intact tomb. Was this the tomb of a king and queen? The objects appeared ordinary. No, it was the tomb of an ordinary couple and their names were Kha and Merit. They were a working-class couple and their tomb gave insight into the lives of ordinary Egyptians. Joanne Fletcher explores the lives of two ordinary Egyptians: Kha and Merit, over two episodes. ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME The Minoans - YouTube Bettany Hughes explores the Minoan Civilization and its mysterious collapse. She narrates a tale of the archeologists who discovered the site to the discoveries that are being made. Each discovery tells us a bit more about the story of the Minoans. She discusses the Minoan kings. It is a fascinating look on a precursor to the Greeks. This is one civilization that isn't covered in a school classroom when I was in school. Athens: The Truth about Democracy - YouTube Bettany Hughes visits ancient Athens and explores the foundation of democracy. Athens was a radical place because for the first time that the people acted as political agents. The archeology demonstrates that the people took some thoughtful and complex steps to protect their democracy. Hughes presents Athens warts and all. This episode is a good foundation for studying Ancient Greece. Meet the Romans with Mary Beard - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Mary Beard is back and this time she is introducing the world to the Romans. She explores the lives of everyday Romans. Both the living and the dead are explored, from the poorest to the richest. Beard seeks out the ordinary voices. They were determined that they would be remembered. Their tombstones did not just leave behind the birth and dates of the Roman, but their thoughts and feelings. How did ordinary Romans think? Tune into this documentary to find out. Lost World of Pompeii - YouTube Scientists, archeologists, and other experts are scanning Pompeii to help unlock its secrets and to help preserve it for the future. Pompeii is falling apart due to the tourists and another eruption from Vesivuius could bury the city again. It is a look at what technology the experts are using to help preserve Pompeii in the future. They talk about what could happen to Pompeii in the future. Time Team: Rooting for Romans - YouTube Time Team is back looking for Roman ruins. They are in the woods in Cambridgeshire. The forest may seem to be the enemy of the archeologists. However, with a lidar-generated scan, Tony was able to show a picture of something in the ground in the woods. Is it a Roman Villa? Or is it a Roman Ironworks? The trees will be a problem for geophysics. A second problem is that they are digging in a national preserve. Time Team will be risking bug bites to dig the site. What will they find in three days? Tune into this episode to find out. ANCIENT CHINA The Only Empress of China - YouTube Wu Zetian is one of the most controversial rulers of China. She was a concubine who rose to become Empress of China. She was the only woman who ruled China. She led China for 50 years. The Chinese officials under her were scathing in their criticism. However, historians and archeologists are uncovering evidence that challenges that assertion. The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube Qin Shi Huangdi was the first Emperor of China. He unified the Chinese people. He built an empire that lasted thousands of years. He left behind a legendary tomb. This documentary explores the man and the legend. It will be a challenge to separate fact from fiction but Professor Jeffrey Reigel takes on that challenge. How did Qin create an empire? How could such a person exist? Why is he such a legendary man? Confucius - YouTube This docu-drama tells the story of Confucius. His ideas were radical and only adopted after his death by the Emperors. His teachings were the foundation of Chinese education for 2,000 years. He taught obedience, meritocracy, and morality. Rituals and etiquette were tools to unite the people. His ideas still govern everything in China. This documentary is the story of Confucius and his legacy. Diva Mummy - YouTube While ordinary people fought in battles, the aristocrats celebrated and grew wealthy. There was a Han aristocrat named Lady Dai. Lady Dai would not ordinarily make history. However, when her tomb was opened the discovery sent shockwaves through the archeological community. Her mummy was the best-preserved mummy in the world. She was known as the perfect mummy. Her lifelike mummy leaves the Egyptian efforts in the dust. Bettany Hughes’s Genius of the Ancient World: Confucius (Available on Amazon) Bettany Hughes travels to China and explores the story of Confucius. She starts with the origins of Confucius. Confucius was a philosopher who systemically applied philosophy to the social, political, and ethical areas of life. He grew up in a world of chaos and looked to bring some organization to that chaos. He was a great teacher who taught the Chinese elite. Unfortunately, he did not live to see his ideas come to fruition. Good morning teachers! Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year. Last year I did a blog post about my recommendations for what to show in the classroom during the school year. This year, I will do the same but this will be a general list of what can be shown in the classroom from Sixth Grade to high school and even college. Also, if appropriate you can show these documentaries in science, agricultural, English, or art classroom. I have published over 200 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list then you can check out my other reviews and make other picks.
If I pick a documentary series, then pick an episode to show in the classroom. So let us begin with the documentary suggestions. ANCIENT WORLD This section will feature documentaries on the ancient world in general. World of Stonehenge - Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Neil Oliver explores Ancient British History in this series. He starts with the impact of the Ice Age, how tools shaped the culture of early Britons, and conclude with the impact of bronze on society. He discusses how Britain was attached to Europe and how rising water levels turned it into an island. Britain has many ancient sites hidden in its landscape and Neil explains what they know about the sites well. City of the God-Kings - YouTube Lost Worlds explores Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat was first discovered by a French naturalist on a search for bugs. What he found surprised him. He believed that it rivaled anything Rome and Greece gave to the world. He had discovered the 900-year-old remains of Angkor Wat, the "Holy Temple." Why was it built? Why was it in the middle of a jungle? Who built it? What is its purpose? It is an enigma. There are many theories about its construction. Great Zimbabwe - YouTube Great Zimbabwe was discovered in 1871. A German geologist stumbled upon some splendid ruins. He had no idea who built the stone structure. He assumed that they were not built by Africans. However, that myth has been dispelled. Could Great Zimbabwe be the equivalent of El Dorado? Gus Casely-Hayford travels the length of Africa to discover the secrets of Great Zimbabwe. Face of Britain: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Neil Oliver explores the genetic doomsday book geneticists in Britain are creating of Britain to determine where the genetic ancestry of the British comes from. Do the British people come from Celts, Vikings, Anglo Saxons, or the Normans? Oliver travels around Britain to talk to the participants of the study. At the end of each episode, they go over the results with the participants of the study. ANCIENT AMERICAS Breaking the Maya Code - YouTube In 1965, Russian linguist Yuri Knorosov cracked the Maya Code. It is about Copan, a Mayan site. It had been abandoned before the Spanish explorers came to Central America. When they stumbled onto the remains of Copan, they stumbled upon a mystery. What did the pictures on the ruins mean? What stories were hidden in these pictures? Cracking the Maya Code is an older documentary. People of the Clouds - YouTube Dr. Jago Cooper explores the ancient kingdoms of South America. For the most part, the Inca dominate the history textbooks. Cooper explores other kingdoms that had an impact on South America. The first kingdom is the “People of the Clouds.” They are a mysterious civilization. He starts off his exploration in Lima to learn more about the People of the Clouds. He goes into the Andes to explore the remnants of the civilization. Kingdom of the Jaguar - YouTube Dr. Jago Cooper explores the Lost Kingdoms of Central America. The first episode in this series is called Kingdom of the Jaguar. Cooper starts off his journey exploring a cave that the people believed was a tunnel to the underworld. This civilization rose out of the marshes of Southern Mexico. They built the first pyramids. They are known as the Olmec. They came before the Mayan People. The Mysteries of the Chinchorro Mummies - YouTube The Chinchorro Mummies are the oldest in the world and they are found in Chile. They came from a people who believed they could conquer death. The first settlers lived on fishing. In 1993, there was a sensational find in Chile: the bodies of the earliest people. These bodies were well preserved and were the oldest mummies in the world. What can these bodies tell us about the Chinchorro people? How do these mummies compare with the Ancient Egyptians? The Land Where Time Began - YouTube The Lost Kingdoms of Central America concludes with the “Place Where Time Began.” Dr. Jago Cooper explores the Teotihuacan civilization. For hundreds of years, it was the biggest state in the world. They built huge pyramids. However, nobody knows the identity of this civilization. Dr. Cooper tries to find out more about this final mysterious civilization. |
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The purpose of this blog is to share information on what can be used in a classroom, private school, or home school setting as well as serve as a portfolio of my personal and professional work. The reviews are my opinions and should be treated as such. I just want to provide a tool for teachers to select documentaries for their classrooms. |