Good morning, we are going to look at the first episode of Ascent of Civilization and The Greeks.  The run time for this episode is 50:31.

Democracy.  The Olympic Games.  The Ancient Greeks established these earmarks of civilization.  Greece is in the Mediterranean world.  Island got the sea around Greece.  There are extensive olive groves and oak forests on the mainland.  About 3,000 years ago the Greeks began here.  Greece was made up of city-states and they were at constant loggerheads.  The only thing these city-states have in common was their language and their gods.  So, what made this place the home of a great civilization? 

First, we learn about the Greek gods.  They lived on Mount Olympus like one big happy family.  From here they interfere with humans whenever they want.  Greek art portrayed them as humans as if they were top models.  They were neither omnipotent nor were they omnipresent.  This runs contrary to what we imagine gods to be.  The gods are morally imperfect and they fight with each other.  Despite this, they were referred for thousands of years.  Zeus was the most colorful of the gods and he ruled them all.  Then there was Demeter, who was in charge of the harvest.  Poseidon was the god of the sea.  Athena was the goodness of wisdom and war.  These are just a few of the gods mentioned.  The gods were consulted about everything.

Delphi was the center of the world, and this is where the people went to inquire about the gods.  Offerings were brought and without these offerings.  The oracles are given by a priestess.  The questions were asked by the priest.  Behind closed doors, the priestess went into a trance and then would give the oracle.  Not much is understood about these rituals or the trance.  There are many theories as to what caused the priestess’ trance.  Did she inhale fumes?  Did she drink something that would cause her trance?  However, the Priests were the ones who presented to policy and they ran the business at Delphi.  The narrator was funny when he said, the more generous the gifts, the clearer the prophecy.  Additionally, the priests went out into the world to learn more about each place and would come back armed with this knowledge.  

The Greeks were observant of the world around them.  They wanted to understand the world around them through thought.  The Greeks observe nature in detail.  They develop tools to measure the circumference of the earth.  The water clock is developed.  They also developed an allotment machine to select and elect officials.  The thirst for knowledge travels through Greece.  Schools are established.  Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are famous Greek philosophers.  One philosopher develops a way to determine if the King’s crown is made up of pure gold or if other medals were mixed into it.  The first steam engine, water pump, and latitude and longitude are developed.  Geometry and algebra go back to the scholars of Ancient Greece. 

A reform in Athens would change Greece forever.  Athens is in crisis.  The common people rebel against the King.  They want to have a say in government.  After the revolution, the common man could be a part of the assembly.  The citizens of Athens meet once a month to talk politics.  This marks the beginning of a new system: democracy.  The kings are overthrown and the people rule. 

Democracy emerges as a result of fighting each other and then eventually defending themselves from the Persians.  Poor and rich fought shoulder to shoulder: their independence was at stake.  Athens builds a naval fleet.  The Greeks eventually beat back the Persians.  Everyone helped beat back the Persians and they want to have their say in government.  The voice of the ordinary man held weight in Athens.  What else did Greece give to the world?  What about Democracy?  Tune into the rest of this documentary to find out more.

The recreations were fascinating and the episode had a good flow to it.  The documentary moved along at a brisk pace.  The recreation of the allotment machine was cool and it was cool to see it in action.  In Bettany Hughes’ documentary, the animation was good but the recreation was even better!  This would be a series geared towards older students in high school and college students. 

Good morning, I am going to continue with the Ancient World.  At the end of 2022, it seemed there was an explosion of Ancient World documentaries added to YouTube.  This time we are going to learn about the Carthaginians.  Did they make their way to the Americas?  The run time for this documentary is 53:22.

Deep in the jungles of South America, a bronze ax has been found.  It was a cult object from the time before Columbus.  The only problem is that it should not be there.  Is it possible that warriors from the old world came to South America?  Did they journey throughout South America?  Relics and mummies conceal baffling mysteries.  Over the years there has been evidence that old-world warriors made their way to South America and joined up with local tribes.

Professor Hans Glifforn, an author, has been collecting evidence over the years.  The evidence he has collected hints that the Old World was in contact with the New World before Columbus.  The Carthaginians were the number one sea power in the Old World.  Luxury goods arrived in this harbor and it make its citizens rich.  It was where ships were launched all over the Mediterranean.  They even made their way down Africa and northern Europe.  Tin from Cornwall would make its way to Carthage.

Professor Hans takes an interest in old legends.  He is keen to gather information, believing that the legends will help point him in the right direction.  He believes that the survivors of the Carthaginians’ defeat would have settled somewhere else.  Would the proud warriors and generals allow themselves to be enslaved by the Romans?  Did they flee across the Atlantic to Peru?

Carthage had the most important harbor of its day.  They were proud warriors and their elephants were a powerful weapon.  The Carthaginian army and navy spread fear and terror throughout the ancient world.  Roman became a dangerous rival to Carthage.  After three wars, Rome defeated Carthage.  Thousands of people died, and thousands more were enslaved, but what about the rest of those citizens?  Professor Hans believes that there would have been a way for others to flee.  He follows the trail to Northern Spain and the lighthouse.  The lighthouse was built by Romans and based on the Pharos Lighthouse.  It casts its light over the Bay of Biscay. 

It was at one of these ports that Carthaginians would have encountered many different sailors.  Perhaps the sailors discussed the possibility of crossing the ocean and the new world found across that ocean.  There would have been stories traded amongst these sailors.  Did the Carthaginians reach Brazil?  There was one Greek historian that hinted at these voyages.  There was a discovery of paradise with large rivers talked about.  Could this story be true?  The Carthaginians were sailing experts and would have looked for favorable winds to take their voyages. 

There was one person who tested this theory.  It took 92 days to reach Barbados from Portugal rowing.  It was a challenging voyage for her but she made it.  She talked about her experiences sailing that way.  Food, being exposed to the sun, and the waves would have been a challenge.  The Carthaginians would have just had to keep going to make it.  Conditions in the new world would have been a challenge for the Carthaginians.

Not far from the Brazilian Coast, there is an archeological site that could provide evidence for Professor Han’s theory.  There is a stone wall with many engravings on it.  Some of the petroglyphs were similar to writing in the old world.  The engravings are proving to be impossible to translate.  Did the Carthaginians make it to Brazil?  Did they make it to Peru?  If they did how would they have survived to their first years?  Tune into the rest of this episode to learn more about this theory.

So many documentaries and so little time.  I am glad I decided to post reviews every day during the school year.  This was an extremely well-done documentary; it did not feed into any conspiracy theory.  The evidence was presented and laid out carefully and thoughtfully.  Additionally, there were no dismissive-I-know-better-than-you historians featured.  This made the documentary really enjoyable.  It was cool to see what evidence was discovered about that potential.  I would consider showing this documentary in a history classroom.

Good morning, for a few districts school, has started, while others are waiting until after Labor Day to start up the new school year.  Today, I am going to look at the documentary The Secret of the Phaistos Code.  The run time for this episode is 51:23.

The Minoans have been considered Europe’s first advanced civilization.  However, there are a group of skeptics calling this history into question.  Some skeptics examined the artifacts and feel that some of those artifacts are fake.  It is the tale of two archeologists: one archeologist Arthur Evans makes sensational discoveries at Knossos.  The other is Luigi Pernier and he does not find anything spectacular until he finds the Phaistos disk.  On it was Europe’s oldest form of writing: or was it?  If this is a hoax, who was behind this hoax?

In 1900, Arthur Evans starts excavating the site at Knossos and the palace.  He had purchased a piece of land to do the dig.  He is interested in both archeology and prestige.  He quickly discovers some good fines.  He was thrilled with the discoveries on Crete.  In the south of Crete, Luigi Pernier and the Italian archeologists are working on a palace site as well.  National pride is at stake for both groups of archeologists.  Pernier’s disk, an icon of the dig, is the main attraction at the national museum in Crete.  However, there is descent, and these voices claim that the disk is a hoax.

Emilie Gillieron was an experienced restorer who worked with Arthur Evans.  Gillieron’s work created a popular picture of the Minoan civilization.  However, many modern historians would be critical of his methods.  Gillieron arrived in Athens in 1877 and found a city in revival.  Many wealthy citizens are investing in the arts and education.  Heinrich Schliemann, a millionaire, is a man interested in finding ancient history.  He wants to discover Troy and Mycenae.  Gillieron hopes to find employment with Schliemann.  Schliemann puts Gillieron’s skills to the test.  Eventually, Gillieron is hired.  After Schliemann dies, Evans brings Gillieron to Crete. 

Emile Jr. also comes to Crete and he is a skilled drawer.  He also has an entrepreneurial spirit and his morals are questionable.  He draws incessantly and neatly.  Both father and son dominate the history of Minoan Civilization discovery.  One historian looks at the archives of the Gillieron family.  They would offer copies of the vases that were discovered.  Illustrators would help archeologists imagine their finds.  The Gillierons created the image of Bronze Age Crete.  They created drawings like a conveyor belt and these drawings could be sold.  Arthur Evans continues to exchange.  He leaves his scruples behind.  Non-Minoan discoveries are quietly discovered.

Pernier is having a tough time.  Where he Is digging, the archeologist has to be a skilled mountain climber.  These mountains were good for defense, but if you wanted to explore Crete’s history you would be challenged to get to the site.  To discover more history, archaeologists have to have local knowledge.   However, despite the challenges, there are artifacts still being found.  There are still settlements being found in the mountains.  These settlements were flourishing.  There were periods of settlement and periods of abandonment.

Crete is a puzzle.  The island was home to a great culture that was comparable to the other civilizations around the world.  Additionally, it was the center of trading routes on the Mediterranean.  The civilizations on Crete had a fleet of ships and could engage in trading around the Mediterranean Sea.  Knossos and Phaistos were important cities on the island.  How could a great civilization survive on this island?  What caused its decline?  Was the disc a fake?  Tune into the rest of this episode to find out more.

First impressions are not what they seem.  I thought this was going to be all conspiracy based, so as I watched the documentary, I was surprised that it did not turn out that way.  It was interesting to see the different approaches to archelogy the two men took.  The section on doing scientific analysis of the artifacts that were found was very interesting.  I felt like the filmmakers were presenting both sides and letting you decide for yourselves whether or not the artifacts were fake.  In the end, this documentary would be one to include on the list for the school year.

This section is for documentaries that the teacher can show for fun!  Sometimes you just need something in your quiver that you can show for fun.

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! 

2022 Suggestions
Florence Foster Jenkins - YouTube
Pendle Witch Trials - YouTube
Lost Liners - YouTube
True History of English Food - YouTube
Victoria and Albert: The Wedding: Amazon
The Blitz Witch - YouTube
Diva Mummy - YouTube
100 Years on the Lincoln Highway - YouTube

2023 Suggestions
True History of English Food - YouTube (58:57)
Lucy Worsley explores the history of English food.  She explores the life of Dorothy Hartley, an early English historian.  She walked the English countryside and documented the world she inhabited.  She wrote a 600-word book about food in England.  She wrote about food preparation, cooking techniques, and illustrated the books.  Worsley talks with the people who knew Hartley and prepares the dishes Dorothy knew.  *Highly recommended for a foods class.  Recommend filler when there is a substitute teacher in the room.*

Time Walks - Freemantle (26:14) Townsville  (25:33) Canberra (26:15)  Adelaide (25:29)  Launceston  (25:54) Barossa Valley (26:30)  Wellington (26:07)
Woolloomoolo (26:12) Bendigo (26:17)  Kalgoorie (26:08)  Brisbane (26:17) Parramatta (26:36)  Geelong (26:33)  Melbourne (26:46)  Carlton (26:38)  St. Kilda (26:47)  Hobart (26:47)  Newcastle (26:44)  Christchurch (26:11)  Alice Springs (26:20)
Tony Robinson has another series Time Walks.  He walks and explores the history of a particular area.  This is different from Time Travels and its search for hidden history.  This series happened over two series and explores the cities of Australia and New Zealand.  Tony brings his storytelling style to this series.  The series kicks off with Freemantle and ends with Alice Springs.  What will Tony Robinson learn about Australia and New Zealand?  *Highly recommended for a geography class.*

Diva Mummy - YouTube (49:47)
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.  *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes.  Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*

France's Greatest Royal Painter: The Rise of Madam LeBrun - YouTube (51:20)
Elisabeth Vigee LeBrun was France’s last great portrait painter.  She was a child prodigy and was taught by her father.  Elisabeth started painting professionally at fourteen years old.   She soon became part of the court of Marie Antoinette.  She painted over 660 portraits.  However, due to her ties to the French court, she is forced to flee into exile.  For thirteen years, she traveled around a variety of European courts.  She will be met with a great deal of acclaim in the European Courts.  *Highly recommended for an art class as well as a history class.  Recommended for independent study students.*

100 Years on the Lincoln Highway - YouTube (56:58)
The Lincoln Highway started in Times Square New York and crossed the country in San Francisco.  IT was the first cross-country road in America.  The country did not have many roads before the automobiles.  Every road was a bike path or a dirt road farmers used to get in and out of town.  These roads did not link together and go somewhere.  *Highly recommended for an American History classroom and for a substitute teacher to show in the classroom.*

Florence Foster Jenkins - YouTube (1:27:40)
Florence Foster Jenkins was known as the world’s worse opera singer and this is her story.  This story is narrated from the perspective of a journalist who interviewed her.  Florence Foster Jenkins was a flamboyant woman who loved to sing.  She planned on performing at Carnegie Hall so the journalist wanted to interview her.  Historians and music lovers talk about Florence Foster Jenkins’ life and singing career.  *Recommended for research.*

Lost Liners - YouTube
This documentary features Bob Ballard exploring his career as an oceanographer.  He discusses the Titanic and Lusitania and learns about the Empress of Ireland.  He talks about the Titanic’s discovery and the problems it caused.  Then he talks about the mystery of Lusitania’s sinking.  Finally, he visits the Empress of Ireland as his last ocean liner.  He visits the Empress of Ireland with a descendant of one of the passengers.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom.  This documentary can be broken up into sections.*

Kingdom of Bhutan - YouTube (50:33)
In Asia’s Monarchies: Bhutan, is the land of the thunder dragon.  It is the symbol of Bhutan and is a Buddhist monarchy.  Both the past and future come together.  The King had given up absolute power and gave the people democracy.  Each king had a crisis that they navigated carefully.   Bhutan is ruled by the Wangchuck dynasty.  It is an isolated kingdom known as the last Shangri-la.  *Recommended for a geography and history class.*

Good morning, I will continue in my quest to make documentary suggestions for the classroom and will feature blogs on World War II and the post World War II era.  This is a list of what I would start with for this section. 
​
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! 

2022 Suggestions
Women Who Made History - Sophie Scholl - YouTube
World's Deadliest Sea Disaster - YouTube
Tuskegee Airmen - YouTube
Wartime Farm:  YouTube
The Secret Diary of the Holocaust - YouTube
Sinking the Hood - YouTube
Hidden Killers of the Post War Home - YouTube
Chernobyl: 35 Years After - YouTube

2023 Suggestions
Lusitania - YouTube
This is an older documentary on the Lusitania.  This documentary came out in 1994 and features the last known Lusitania survivors.  The survivors tell their stories about the ship and how they survived the sinking.  They also discuss their theories about why she sank so fast.  It also features Bob Ballard, who was trying to discover why she sank so fast.  Did the contraband on the ship explode and cause the ship to sink?  *Recommended for an independent study student.*

The Great War In Numbers - Episode 1   Episode 3  Episode 6 
World War I: The Numbers covers the sheer numbers involved in World War I.  The Imperial powers were not satisfied with the vast territories and wealth they acquired over decades.  So when in 1914, when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was killed the world exploded.  This war would kill 18 million people.  This war would change world history.  *Recommended for a high school world history classroom.  Recommended for an independent study student.*

The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube
It is 1914 and the soldiers on both sides of the Great War are exhausted from fighting.  Christmas comes and the British soldiers suddenly hear something in the night sky.  It is the German soldiers singing Christmas carols.  The Germans are also putting up Christmas trees in the trenches.  Morning comes and there is a sense of peace in the air…  *Highly recommended for history and independent study students for Christmas Time or when World War I is studied.*

Unsinkable! Japan's Lost Battleship - YouTube (54:58)
Musashi was Japan's biggest battleship.  It went down in its first battle at the Leyte Gulf and disappeared from history.  Now a team lead by David Mearns looks to find the wreck.  He used a variety of military records to determine where the ship went down.  Will the expedition find the wreck of the Musashi?  This documentary is a fascinating look at Battleship History as well as the science behind looking for shipwrecks.  *Recommended for a history classroom as well as for research purposes.*

Pearl Harbor: The Hunt for the USS Arizona - YouTube (1:37:51)
On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  This attack caught America off guard.  During this attack the USS Arizona torpedoed and sunk, killing 1,100 sailors on board.  Seventy-five years later a group put together by the National Parks Service is looking to scan the outside and the inside of wreck of the USS Arizona.  This documentary talks about the efforts to document the ship as well as talks with the survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack. *Highly recommended for American History Classes.*

Women Who Made History - Sophie Scholl - YouTube (51:09)
Sophie Scholl was a woman who fought back against the Nazis during World War II.  Her childhood was ordinary.  She had two brothers and two sisters.  Her father was the mayor of a small town.  Eventually, the family moved and the family had only each other to rely on.  As a child, she joined the Hitler Youth but would eventually she would turn against Hitler.  What were the events that turned her against Hitler?  Why did she turn against Hitler?  *Highly recommended for a world history classroom and independent study students.*

Eva - YouTube (56:09)
​ “Eva” explores Eva Mozes Kor a survivor of the Mengle Twin Experiment.  Eva was sent to Birkenau as a child and in 1984 she and her twin sister visited the camp.  She went with a tape recorder to recall her experience.  When entering the camp, her mother and father were taken from her and her twin.  She would never see her mother again.  Eva promised her mother that she would tell the story of what happened to them.   ​*HIGHLY recommended for a high school world history class.*

The Secret Diary of the Holocaust - YouTube (50:23)
In 2005, a school notebook was discovered.  It was written by a 14-year-old girl named Rutka Laskier.  The diary was discovered in the floorboards of her home.  She was dubbed the “Polish Anne Frank.”  In here she recorded the last few months of her life in the ghetto of Bedzin.  She wrote about the atrocities that she saw, the hunger, and the physical hardships she endured.  This documentary tells Rutka’s through the eyes of her half-sister, Zahava Scherz.  *HIGHLY recommended for a world history class, no matter what age group.*

Good morning, I will continue in my quest to make documentary suggestions for the classroom and will feature blogs on the Late Victorian Period to the period before World War I.  This is a list of what I would start with for this section.  Some of the suggestions are historical based reality TV series.
​
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! 

2022 Suggestions
Krakatoa: The Great Volcanic Eruption - YouTube
Waking the Titanic - YouTube
Words of the Titanic - YouTube
1900 Island - Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4  
Edwardian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime
Hidden Killers of the Edwardian Home - YouTube
Lusitania - YouTube
The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube

2023 Suggestions
*Edwardian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn, and Alex Langladas live as farmers during the Edwardian Period.  Goodman, Ginn, and Langladas plant market gardens, raise livestock, and keep houses using Edwardian methods.  They participate in daily Edwardian life and show how the Edwardian period brought changes to England.  *Recommend for a history classroom, highly recommend for an agricultural classroom.  Excellent series for an independent study student.*

1900 Island - Episode 1 (58:56) Episode 2 (58:55) Episode 3 (58:51) Episode 4  (58:55)
Four families are heading back to 1900 and living in a small fishing village for a month.  The men will go fishing and the women will take care of the home.  The children will be educated in the 1900 schoolhouse.  So what hardships will these families face living this lifestyle?  What challenges will these families face?  Will the families come together to help each other?  Will they fall in love with the past?  *Recommended for a history class.*

Beatrix Potter - YouTube (46:58)
You know her as the Bucket Woman from Keeping Up Appearances, however, this woman has quite a few additional acting credits to her name.  Dame Patricia Routledge presents a delightful documentary on one of England’s most beloved authors: Beatrix Potter.  Dame Patricia is a patron of the Beatrix Potter Society and explores how Potter became a sensation in the Edwardian Period.  What was it about Beatrix Potter that made her the author she was?  *Highly recommended for an English Literature or General Literature classroom.  Highly recommended for biography projects.*

First Flight: The Race to Create the World's First Flying Machine - YouTube (52:49)
In 1903, the Wright Brothers made the first motorized flight.  Or did they?  This documentary talks about the controversy surrounding this claim.  Aviation expert, John Brown explores this controversy and puts for the claim that Gustave Whitehead was the one that made the first flight.  It is a claim that outrages many.   Was Gustave Whitehead a genius or a person discredited by his rivals?  Who kick-started the age of aviation?  *Recommended for use in an American history classroom.*

Waking the Titanic - YouTube
Fourteen young people from one small town in Ireland made their way to America, on board the Titanic.  They traveled together in a group to keep each other safe.  Only 3 survived the trip.  The deaths of 11 young people deeply scarred the town they grew up in.  Narrated by the actor who played Branson on Downton Abbey.  This docu-drama offers a different perspective on the Titanic by sharing the story of ordinary people.  *Highly recommended for an elementary school, middle school, and high school classroom.  Recommended for a substitute teacher to show.*

Frank Lloyd Wright - YouTube
Frank Lloyd Wright was the greatest architect in America.  He redefined architecture and became famous in the world all over.  However, his genius is oftentimes buried under the scandals of his life.  Jonathan Adams, an architect from Wales is going to travel around America to discover more about Frank Lloyd Wright.  He wants to know the man and wishes to put him back in his place.  What will Jonathan discover about Frank Lloyd Wright?  Tune into this episode to find out more.  *HIGHLY recommended for a history and house building class.*

 Hidden Killers of the Edwardian Home - YouTube (58:44)
Suzannah Lipscomb explores the Hidden Killers of the Edwardian Home.  The Edwardian Home was full of new inventions, however, some of these inventions were quite dangerous.  It was the first time the home had electricity.  Asbestos was used as insulation.  Refrigerators started to make an appearance in the home.  Women could wear make-up to have an up-to-date look.  *Recommended for a high school history classroom.  Highly recommended for independent study students.*

Good morning, I will continue in my quest to make documentary suggestions for the classroom and will feature blogs on the Industrial Age and the Early Victorian period.  This is a list of what I would start with for this section.
​
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! 

2022 Suggestions
Women Who Made History: Queen Luise - YouTube
Queen Victoria: A Monarch Unveiled:  Episode 1  Episode 2
Full Steam Ahead: YouTube
The Lost Viaduct - YouTube
Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors: YouTube
Elegance and Decadence: History of the Regency: Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3
Victorian Pharmacy - Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3  Episode 4
Victorian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime

2023 Suggestions
King George III: Genius of a Mad King: YouTube (58:56)
King George III's papers were digitized and this documentary shows historians poring over his papers, learning more about this misunderstood monarch.  His papers reveal a remarkable man.  He was a king engaged with his kingdom.  He tried to avoid arguments to prevent his fits of madness.  I created an assignment that would allow students to use his papers to explore more of the life of this misunderstood king.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom, both American and World history.  Highly recommended for independent study students.*

Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors: YouTube (58:45)
Lucy explores the houses that inspired Jane Austen and her writing.  She starts with Austen’s childhood home and concludes with the home she died in.  Worsley goes to the places that had an impact on Austen’s writing and life.  She even spends the night in a house that Austen lived in.  It is a fascinating look at Jane Austen, her life, and the impact of her writing.  *Highly recommended for both a history classroom and an English classroom.* 

Women Who Made History: Queen Luise - YouTube  (50:57)
She was the most dangerous woman in all of Europe.  Princess  Luise was a queen from a humble background.  She and her sister married Prussian princes.  Princess Luise would eventually become Queen Luise.  Queen Luise of Prussia encouraged the Prussians to go to war with Napoleon.  This is a German documentary with English subtitles.  *Highly recommend for independent study students learning about a person in history.  Would show to a high school history class.*

Empress Josephine - YouTube (52:17)
Empress Josephine was Napoleon Bonaparte’s, great love.  During the Time of the French Revolution, everyone knows Marie Josephe Rose Tascher de Le Pagerie.  History would know her as Josephine.  The Reign of Terror has just ended and she had just barely escaped the guillotine.  She would meet a Corsican general who was just beginning his career.  This general was six years younger than her but he fell madly in love with her.  The pair would eventually marry and would write world history.  *Recommended for research purposes.*

War of 1812 - YouTube (1:53:16)
In June 1812, the young United States declared war on Great Britain.  This war lasted for two years and the United States fought against the British, the Canadians, and the indigenous populations.  This is a war that is largely forgotten in both the United States and Britain.  However, there is one place where the war is remembered: Canada.  Legends grew up after the war.  1812 was a tiny war by the world’s standards and yet it has a big impact on a continent.  *Recommended for an American History class.*

Queen Victoria: A Monarch Unveiled:  Episode 1 (58:51) Episode 2 (58:52)
A.N. Wilson explores the life of Queen Victoria through the letters that survived over two episodes.  The first episode shows what her childhood and married life were like.  The second episode shows her as a widow.  He paints a portrait of a monarch who laughed frequently, engaged in politics, and enjoyed life.  Wilson’s portrayal of Queen Victoria shatters the myth of the widow in black.  It is a fascinating look at the life of Queen Victoria through her surviving journals.  *Highly recommended for a high school history class and independent study students.*

*Full Steam Ahead: Episode 1 (58:16)  Episode 2  (58:16)  Episode 3  (58:13)  Episode 4 (58:10)
Peter Ginn, Alex Langlands, and Ruth Goodman explore the history of British Railways in this series.  They start with how the railroads impact mining and local areas before going into how the railways impact Britain as a nation.  The railroad had as big an impact as the internet had.  Ginn, Langlands, and Goodman demonstrate the changes the railroad brought over the decades.  *Highly recommend for a middle school and high school history classroom.*

*Victorian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn, and Alex Langladas live as farmers during the Victorian Age.  They work on the Acton-Scott estate for this series.  The first restore a Victorian's farm workers cottage, prepare cider, and plant their fields.  They participate in daily Victorian life.  They celebrate the holidays Victorian Style.  *Recommend for both history and agricultural classroom.  Highly recommend it for independent study students and clips in a lecture.*

Good morning, now we are going to focus on documentaries that will fall into the Post Reformation world.  Last year, this section was part of the Reformation section, however, since I found additional documentaries on the Renaissance I am going to split this section off.  These suggestions are my opinion and my opinion only.

If I pick a documentary series, then pick an episode to show in the classroom.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2022. 

2022 Recommendations
Elizabeth I - Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4
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
Germans: Frederick and the Empress:  YouTube

2023 Recommendations
Elizabeth I - Episode 1 (49:28) Episode 2  (49:35) Episode 3 (Video Not Available) Episode 4 (49:23)
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.  *Highly recommended for a high school history class and an independent study student.*

Pendle Witch Trials - YouTube (59:64)
Alice Device, Jennet’s sister, confessed to being a witch.  An old peddler was struck down with a stroke after refusing to sell her some pins.  After this confession, dozens of people were arrested.  Jennet Device testifies in a witch trial against her family, setting a precedent in judicial history.  Jennet’s testimony condemned her family.  The narrator presents this documentary very well and his style engages the viewer.  *Recommended for independent research purposes.*

The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign - Episode 1  (43:26)  Episode  2 (43:33)  Episode  3 (43:46) Episode 4  (43:35)   
The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign is a series featuring the Stuarts.  They took over England after the death of Queen Elizabeth I.  Europe is torn apart by religious conflict and England is right at the center.  The Stuart kings were James I, Charles I, Charles II, and James II.  Kate Williams reassesses this dynasty in light of new evidence.  She also explores a family who witnessed the rise and the fall of the Stuarts.  *Skip episode 1, otherwise episodes 2-4 are highly recommended for a history class.*

*Tales From Green Valley: Episode 1 (29:12) Episode 2 (29:11) Episode 3 (29:12) Episode 4 (29:12) Episode 5 (29:11) Episode 6 (29:12) Episode 7 (29:12) Episode 8 (29:11) Episode 9 (29:12) Episode 10 (29:13) Episode 11 (29:12) Episode 12 (29:12)
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.  *Highly recommend for both history and agricultural classroom.*

Germans: Frederick and the Empress:  YouTube (42:29)
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.  *Highly recommended for a high school history classroom.  Highly recommended for research purposes.*

The Great Fire – Episode 1 (44:20) Episode 2 (44:32) Episode 3 (44:32)
Dan Jones, Suzannah Lipscomb, and Rob Bell explore the history of the Great London Fire.  It was the biggest fire London ever had.  They walk the route of the fire and explore how the fire started.  The fire happened during a hot, dry summer.  Jones, Lipscomb, and Bell explore the Great London Fire through the stories of three people.  They tell how the fire impacted them.  It is an in-depth look at the London Fire. *Recommended for research purposes.*

This is a new section for 2023: documentaries on both the Renaissance and Reformation.  I have slowly been building up those sections for review.  I will continue to work on building up these topics for the future.  These lists are my opinion and only my opinion.

If I pick a documentary series, then pick an episode to show in the classroom.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2023.

The Machine that Made Us - YouTube
Stephen Fry examines the story of Johann Gutenberg, the genius who invented the printing press.  He was the man who launched the first media revolution and launched the modern world.  Fry helps make a working medieval printing press.  However, Gutenberg’s story is mysterious and Fry hopes that by recreating a printing press he will get to grips with the man.  Will Fry succeed in making a working printing press?  Who was Johann Gutenberg?  *Recommended for a history class as well as a science class because of the experimental history aspect.*

How To Get Ahead - Renaissance Court -YouTube
Stephen Smith explores Florence and the reign of Grand Duke Cosimo Medici.  Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to the Medici Family.  They were a family of bankers who turned into royals.  They were the patrons of the arts and finer things of life.  Artists and thinkers flourished in the Medici Court.  Cosimo was a man interested in the finer things in life.  He was a man who reigned during the same time as Henry VIII.  He was the man who wrote the book on how to be a Renaissance Prince.  *Use for clips, not recommended to be shown in class.*

The Renaissance The Age of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci - Episode 1 Episode 2 
Vatican City and Saint Peter’s Square is the most impressive monument of the Renaissance.  IT is the largest cathedral in the world.  Just think, it would have been impossible to construct such a building in the Middle Ages.  The knowledge was just not there.  Then the Renaissance happened, and knowledge started to flow.  Their knowledge would have enabled people to build such structures as Saint Peter’s.  What were their secrets? *Recommended for both an art and history class.*

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.  *Highly recommend for both high school and middle school classrooms and independent study students.*

Secrets of the Dead - Battle for the Bible: YouTube
This is the history of how the Bible was translated into English.  Bible translation was an illegal act.  This documentary tells the story of ohn Wycliffe, Thomas Cramner, and William Tyndale.  John Wycliffe was the first person who worked on translating the Bible into English.  William Tyndale was the next person who worked on translating the Bible.  Thomas Cramner worked with reforming the English religion.  *Highly recommend for middle school and high school classrooms.  It is a good filler for a substitute teacher.*

Baroque - Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3
Waldemar Januszczak explores the world of Baroque Art.  Baroque art spanned the 17th Century, spawning the greatest art.  It began in St. Peter’s in Rome.  It is an art form that embraces you.  It goes big and highlights the drama.  It could become dark and edgy.  It blurred the divide between art and reality.  The Baroque roped in other art forms to bring you into its world.  Music, sculpture, and architecture were all impacted by the Baroque arts.  *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for an art class.  Episode 1 would be a good idea for a STEM class.*

The Cranachs - YouTube
They are two of the greatest artist of the 16th Century, Lucas and Lucas Cranach.  They ran a workshop and produced some of the greatest works of the Reformation.  They made their fortune painting.  The pair were personal friends of Martin Luther.  They painted more and faster than any of their contemporaries.  Generations of scholars have studied the Cranachs’, however, there are still questions that have to be answered.  Today, modern technology may have scholars find the answers they are looking for.  * Recommended for an art class and independent study students.*

Hans Holbein - YouTube
Artist Hans Holbein was one of the artists of the Tudor Era.  He documented the Tudors and the Tudor Period.  Waldemar Januszczak introduces Holbein using a portrait of the young Henry VIII.  Henry VIII was portrayed as a young man and thin in contrast to the fat man later portraits show him as.  Holbein was not limited to painting the king, he painted people from the Tudor Court.  He also recorded British History and Januszczak contends he changed history.  *Recommended for an art class, recommended for clips for a history class.*

Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant - Episode 1 (47:30) Episode 2 (46:06) Episode 3 (48:47)  Episode 4 (49:33)
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.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school history classroom.*

Six Wives of Henry VIII - DVD
David Starkey narrates this series on the Six Wives of Henry VIII.  He covers the marriage of Catherine of Aragon and what lead to the divorce.  The marriage with Jane Seymour.  What led to the marriage to Anne of Cleves, the break up of that marriage.  This was the first time I learned that Anne of Cleves was rejected because she didn't recognize Henry III and not because she was ugly.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school history classroom.*