Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
Lusitania - YouTube
The Great War In Numbers - Episode 1   Episode 3  Episode 6 
The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube
Unsinkable! Japan's Lost Battleship - YouTube (54:58)
Pearl Harbor: The Hunt for the USS Arizona - YouTube (1:37:51)
Women Who Made History - Sophie Scholl - YouTube (51:09)
Eva - YouTube (56:09)
The Secret Diary of the Holocaust - YouTube (50:23)

2024 Suggested Documentaries
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.*

Auschwitz: The Forgotten Evidence - YouTube (58:48)
A US Plane was flying over Southern Poland.  What the crew was filming was a new Nazi chemical plant, however, when the film was developed something else caught their eye.  It was about seven miles away from the chemical plant.  What they caught on camera was Auschwitz.  They had captured these images completely by accident.  The true horror of genocide was captured in one moment.  They have filed away and forgotten.  *HIGHLY recommended for a high school world history class.*

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.*

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.*

Battle 360: Battle of Leyte Gulf - YouTube (54:53)
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the last great naval battle.  The USS Enterprise took part in this battle.  It also took place in the air and under the sea.  There was nowhere to run nor nowhere to hide.  The aircraft carrier’s mission was to scout the Philippine Sea for the Japanese Navy.  Both the Musashi and Yamato battleships were going to take part in this battle.  *This is a highly recommended documentary for both a World and American History Classroom.  Highly Recommended for independent study students.*

World War II in Numbers - Episode 3 Backs to the Wall - YouTube (45:02)
Britain evacuated thousands of troops from Dunkirk and was now squarely the target of the enemy.  Adolf Hitler was planning a full-scale invasion of Britain.  Once the British were defeated, he would turn his eyes to Russia.  However, his plans hinged on the Germans achieving air superiority.  Unfortunately for Hitler, the Brits had other plans for the battle of the air.  How did the Royal Air Force manage to defeat the German Air Force in the skies?  *This is a highly recommended documentary for a world history classroom.  Highly Recommended for independent study students.*

World War II in Numbers - Episode 4 Global War - YouTube (44:57)
United States President Roosevelt is running for an unprecedented third term in office.  America entering World War II seems inevitable.  However, the US public does not want to enter a war.  However, there are forces swirling around that make the United States entering the war seem inevitable.  Things change when Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.  By attacking Pearl Harbor, the course of the war was changed.  *This is a highly recommended documentary for a world history classroom.  Highly Recommended for independent study students.*

Battle of the Bulge - YouTube (46:33)
It is December 1944 and the Germans launch an attack on the Ardennes Forest.  This is the first step in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge.  The Americans are taken completely by surprise by the one last desperate attempt to turn the tides of war.  The American forces push back against the German troops with tanks in the largest tank counterattack in all of World War II.  *This is a highly recommended documentary for a world history classroom.  Highly Recommended for independent study students.*

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.*

Leningrad - The Hero City - YouTube (51:59)
Leningrad was subjected to the longest siege in the history of war.  The city was both bombed and shelled by the Nazis.  The siege lasted nine hundred days and killed one million inhabitants.  However, the city and its residents stood against the Nazi invasion.  Leningrad defied the odds and its residents survived without electricity, sewage disposal, and food.  How did they do it?  How could they survive such an onslaught?  *This is a highly recommended documentary for a world history classroom.  Highly Recommended for independent study students.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
Lusitania - YouTube
The Great War In Numbers - Episode 1   Episode 3  Episode 6 
The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube
Unsinkable! Japan's Lost Battleship - YouTube (54:58)
Pearl Harbor: The Hunt for the USS Arizona - YouTube (1:37:51)
Women Who Made History - Sophie Scholl - YouTube (51:09)
Eva - YouTube (56:09)
The Secret Diary of the Holocaust - YouTube (50:23)

2024 Suggested Documentaries
Lusitania - YouTube (52:37)
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 (44:46) Episode 2(45:13)  Episode 3 (44:58) Episode 4 (45:09) Episode 5 (45:03) Episode 6 (45:02)
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 First Tank Battle - YouTube  (44:11)
World War I was the first war where tanks were introduced in warfare.  It was the British that introduced the first tanks.  The British were determined to end the stalemate of trench water.  The Germans did not know what happen.  However, they caught up with lethal fire and then with their tanks.  How did the first tanks develop?  Would they put a stop to trench warfare?  This documentary explores the history of the tank and the greatest battles they participated in. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom.  Recommended for an independent study student who has an interest in military history.*

The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube (50:31)
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.*

SS Armenian - YouTube (49:31)
The year is June 1915.  The SS Armenian is carrying 1400 mules for the battlefields of Europe.  A U-boat spots the ship and fires.  Twenty-nine Americans are killed and the mules are sent to the bottom of the sea.  Americans already outraged by the Lusitania sinking are made even angrier.  The sinking of this ship would cause a second international incident between Germany and the United States.  Now a team of divers plans to locate the wreck of the ship off Cornwall.  Will these divers be successful?  *Recommended for independent study students and for the history classroom.*

The Kaiser's Pirates - YouTube (52:15)
The story of World War I piracy begins in the port of Kiel in Germany.  The ship was called the Wolf.  The SMS Wolf was engaging in piracy during World War I.  The Grandson of the captain of the ship has been doing research on the ship.  In 1916, a ship slipped out of the harbor and went on a voyage.  The ship was on an important mission for the Kaiser.  She was going to engage in piracy on the high seas during World War I.  *Recommended for a history class and 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.*

Amelia: A Tale of Two Sisters - YouTube (44:02)
Society was changing and men were now taking to the skies in airplanes.  Women were demanding more rights and were finding achievements in aeronautics.  One such woman was Amelia Earhart.  Earhart was attracted to aviation and through determination and hard work, she would become the most famous aviator at the time.  She would inspire female aviators in future generations.  Her sister Muriel would not only champion her sister Amelia but would keep Amelia’s legacy alive.  To this day, people are still looking to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance.  *Recommended for both a history class and for research.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
*Edwardian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
1900 Island - Episode 1 (58:56) Episode 2 (58:55) Episode 3 (58:51) Episode 4  (58:55)
Beatrix Potter - YouTube (46:58)
First Flight: The Race to Create the World's First Flying Machine - YouTube (52:49)
Waking the Titanic - YouTube
Frank Lloyd Wright - YouTube
 Hidden Killers of the Edwardian Home - YouTube (58:44)


2024 Suggested Documentaries
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.*

*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 house 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.*

Christabel and Sylvia: A Tale of Two Sisters - YouTube (43:51)
It was one of the biggest political changes in the Twentieth Century: women gaining the right to vote.  It had taken decades of successive governments before women obtained the right to vote.  The Pankhurst Family fought hard for the right to vote.  They campaigned in public and were militant suffragettes.  They would have many encounters with law enforcement.  However, behind the scenes, there were some serious tensions in the family which would lead to one member being expelled from the suffragette movement.  *Recommended for a history classroom and for research purposes.*

The Secrets of a Suffragette - YouTube (46:52)
Emily Davison was a British suffragette who protested for women’s right to vote.  She stepped into history by stepping into the path of the King’s horse at the 1913 Derby.  She was fatally injured.  Claire Balding explores Emily Davison’s story.  Growing up she was told that Emily threw herself in front of the King’s horse and that it was the end of it.  However, Claire was to investigate the real story behind this episode in British History.  *Recommended for a history classroom and for research purposes.*

Frank Lloyd Wright - YouTube (59:15)
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.*

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 (51:23)
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.*

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.*

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 teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors: YouTube (58:45)
Women Who Made History: Queen Luise - YouTube  (50:57)
Empress Josephine - YouTube (52:17)
War of 1812 - YouTube (1:53:16)
Queen Victoria: A Monarch Unveiled:  Episode 1 (58:51) Episode 2 (58:52)
*Full Steam Ahead: Episode 1 (58:16)  Episode 2  (58:16)  Episode 3  (58:13)  Episode 4 (58:10)
*Victorian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00

2024 Recommendation Documentaries
 Krakatoa: The Great Volcanic Eruption - YouTube (1:25:34)
The Explosion of Krakatoa is a docudrama about the 1883 eruption.  It tells the story of the lighthouse keeper, a ship's captain, government officials, and the people.  Using primary sources, the producers put together this documentary about the eruption of Krakatoa and its impact on the world.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school history, geography, and earth science classroom.  Highly recommended for independent study students.*

Citizen - YouTube (56:46)
Women for a time were considered the property of their husbands.  Women were not even allowed to own property or have custody of their children.  Women wanted to be considered citizens of this nation and fully participate in the decisions of the nation.  They wanted to have the right to vote.  This documentary looks at a variety of activists such as Gertrude Bonnin and Nellie Griswold Francis.  These women worked for the right to vote.  *Recommended for a local high school history class.*

*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.*

The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts - Episode 1  (58:47)  Episode 2 (59:14) Episode 3 (59:14) Episode 4 (59:12)
The Arts and crafts movement was at its height during the Victorian Period.  A group of men and women are rewriting the rule books for design and architecture.  They were starting a revolution.  They hated the drudgery of the Industrial Age.  They wanted to turn back the clock to the time when the craftsman was appreciated and bring art to the masses.  So what can the modern period learn about the Arts and Crafts movement?  Six modern crafters are going to spend a month together in a Victorian Artist Commune and will be remaking a house room by room.  *Recommended for an art class.*

*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.*

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.*

Victoria and Albert: The Wedding: Amazon (2:00:00)
Lucy Worsley and several historians restage the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, each taking a piece of the ceremony such as the music, fashion, the placement of the guest, and the wedding breakfast.  One historian looks at the food.  Another recreates the wedding dress and dresses the guests at the wedding.  It is an intimate look at the wedding that changed the course of history.  *Highly recommended for a history class and a home economics class.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
Elizabeth I - Episode 1 (49:28) Episode 2  (49:35) Episode 3 (Video Not Available) Episode 4 (49:23)
Pendle Witch Trials - YouTube (59:64)
The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign - Episode 1  (43:26)  Episode  2 (43:33)  Episode  3 (43:46) Episode 4  (43:35)   
*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)
Germans: Frederick and the Empress:  YouTube (42:29)
The Great Fire – Episode 1 (44:20) Episode 2 (44:32) Episode 3 (44:32)

2024 Recommendation Documentaries
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.*

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.*

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.*

1755: The Lisbon Earthquake - YouTube (49:15)
In 1755 an earthquake struck Lisbon and it would become known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake.  It was the first natural disaster to strike the heart of a large European city.  The earthquake began on November 1, 1755, at 9:40 AM.  It was an estimated 8.5 on the Richter scale and caused widespread destruction throughout Lisbon.  It also triggered a tsunami.  About 60,000-100,000 people died as a result of the earthquake and tsunami which would impact Portugal as a whole.  How does this earthquake continue to resonate with people today?  *Highly recommended for a science class and recommended for a history class.*

Marie Antoinette - YouTube (28:54)
Amber Buchart examines the wardrobe of Marie Antoinette and she is examining a portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette dressed in a chemise gown.  She was painted wearing the dress.  It caused a scandal in the French Court.  The portrait shows the Queen wearing her underwear!  Fashion had played a role in the French Revolution and Amber explores the role that it played in the fall of the French monarchy.  What can the recreation of the Chemise tell us about Marie Antoinette?  What does Amber learn about the Queen?  *Highly recommended for a history class and a home economics class.  Highly recommended for independent study students.*

*Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors: YouTube (58:49)
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.* 

The Brilliant Bronte Sisters - YouTube (46:49)
Shelia Hancock is an actress and writer who has been fascinated by the Bronte Sisters.  She seeks to answer her questions: “How did three spinsters write the most shocking books?”  Hancock begins her journey in Haworth and the moors that would have inspired Emily Bronte.  Her quest takes her to Brussels where Charlotte Bronte developed her writing style.  Then she ends her journey in Scarborough and learns more about Anne Bronte.  Along the way, she meets with the leading voices of the Brontës as well as the artists who continued to be inspired by the Brontës.   *Recommended for an English Class, please pair with Tony Robinson's Walking Through History episode about the Brontes.*

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.*

Furnace in the Forest - YouTube (47:59) Series 18
The Time Team is investigating the early days of the Industrial Revolution.  Derwentcote was at the heart of an iron and steel complex that helped spread the British Empire.  The Time Team will have their hands full, clearing away decades of brush and growth to access the site.  There was a hodgepodge of processes going on at the Derwentcote site.  The Time Team has three days to excavate, hopefully, the Time Team will be able to get to the archeology.  *Recommended for a history classroom and independent study students.*

Rubble at the Mill - YouTube (48:47) Series 13
Underneath a car park in Manchester lies the remains of a mill.  Manchester was a powerhouse in the cotton industry and it was a city that had a lot of mills.  In 1780, the first cotton mill in Manchester was built and was built by Richard Arkwright.  It housed the first steam engines.  It is now buried under a car park.  The Time Team has three days to discover and recover one of Britain’s most important historic sites.  Will the Time Team find the mill? *Recommended for a history class on the Industrial Revolution.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
Elizabeth I - Episode 1 (49:28) Episode 2  (49:35) Episode 3 (Video Not Available) Episode 4 (49:23)
Pendle Witch Trials - YouTube (59:64)
The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign - Episode 1  (43:26)  Episode  2 (43:33)  Episode  3 (43:46) Episode 4  (43:35)   
*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)
Germans: Frederick and the Empress:  YouTube (42:29)
The Great Fire – Episode 1 (44:20) Episode 2 (44:32) Episode 3 (44:32)

2024 Recommendation Documentaries
The Boy King: Edward VI: YouTube (47:59)
David Starkey narrates this documentary on Henry VIII's only surviving son King Edward VI, and how England would have been very different if he survived and had a child.  He explores what England would have been if Edward lived longer.  England would have been prosperous, militarized, and Protestant.  He concludes with how Edward wanted to change the succession to avoid his sister taking the throne.  *Highly recommended for research purposes.*

The Origins of Bloody Mary - YouTube (48:21)
David Starkey explores the story of Queen Mary I from her childhood, the struggles with her father, and how she survived to become Queen.  She was the first woman who fought and won the throne in England.  He goes into details on how she ruled England and concludes with her death.  As the first woman crowned Queen, she faced questions over who she should marry and what rights she had to rule.  *Recommend for research purposes for high school history.*

Elizabeth I - Episode 1 (44:39) Episode 2 (44:36) Episode 3 (44:20)
Suzannah Lipscomb and Dan Jones narrate this docu-drama on Elizabeth I from her growing up in Catherine Parr's household to her arrest to her become Queen.  Then they cover the events of Queen Elizabeth's reign.  Elizabeth was surrounded by enemies from the beginning of her birth.  Her enemies tried to take her life and her throne.  Elizabeth had to learn to play politics quickly.  It is a new look at Queen Elizabeth.  *Highly recommended for a high school history class and an independent study student.*

The Women Who Made History – Elizabeth - YouTube (43:33)
She was a woman who fought since she was born.  Men, queens, and half of Europe fought her.  Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen of England and the head of the church.  She had faced many storms along the way.  Two queens wanted her dead.  Men wanted to marry her to have the throne.  The Spanish declared the war on her.  The Pope wanted her dead as well.  How could this lone woman navigate such stormy waters?   *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom.  Highly recommended for independent study students and 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.*

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.*

Tiny Holland, Great Holland - YouTube (47:27)
The Netherlands would rise from a humble beginning in the 16th Century.  The Netherlands, the size of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, declared independence from Spain.  Why would they declare independence from Spain?  Freedom of religion would be the national creed.  Eventually, the Netherlands would rule the oceans of the world.  How did the tiny Netherlands become such a superpower?  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

The Great Plague - Episode 1 (43:50)  Episode 2 (44:18)  Episode 3 (44:13)
London was hit by the Great Plague in 1665.  100,000 people in London were killed over eighteen months.  The plague spread throughout the country as well killing more people.  What are the plagues' parallels to COVID-19?  Xand van Tulleken, Raksha Dave, and John Sergeant work to trace the origins of the plague in London over three episodes.  Xand looks at the records to see where it started.  Raksha looks at how the disease spread.   John discovers the symptoms of the plague and how it was transmitted.
 

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Suggested Documentaries
Renaissance World
The Machine that Made Us - YouTube
How To Get Ahead - Renaissance Court -YouTube
The Renaissance The Age of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci - Episode 1 Episode 2 
The Germans - Martin Luther and the Nation: YouTube
Secrets of the Dead - Battle for the Bible: YouTube
Baroque - Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3
The Cranachs - YouTube
Hans Holbein - YouTube
Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant - Episode 1 (47:30) Episode 2 (46:06) Episode 3 (48:47)  Episode 4 (49:33)
Six Wives of Henry VIII – DVD

2024 Documentary Recommendations
The Germans - Martin Luther and the Nation: YouTube (42:51)
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 (51:29)
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 (58:39)  Episode 2 (59:02)  Episode 3 (59:38)
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 (42:27)
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.*

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.*

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.*

Hans Holbein - YouTube (59:50)
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.*

*Tudor Monastery Farm: YouTube Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Ruth Goodman, Tom Pinford, and Peter Ginn live life as farmers during the Tudor period for a full calendar year.  Monasteries were an important part of Tudor Life and they were the landlords during this period.  They plant a field, raise livestock, and keep house using Tudor methods.  Ruth manages the house and dairy while the boys' Tom and Peter manage the fields.  This playlist includes Tudor Feast at Christmas.  *Recommended for all ages as well as for both a history classroom and agricultural classroom.*

Secrets of the Six Wives: Amazon (3:00:00)
Lucy Worsley dives headfirst into Tudor Court Life as she explores the women behind Henry VIII.  She explores the early marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, their hard divorce; his relationship with Anne Boleyn; the birth of his son by Jane Seymour; the smarts of Anne of Cleves; Catherine Howard, his teenage bride; and finally Catherine Parr, a nurse with her convictions on religion.  *Recommended for a high school history classroom and independent study students.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.
 
2023 Documentary Recommendations
Dark Ages
536 AD: The Year The Sun Disappeared Episode 1  Episode 2
Dark Ages: An Age of Light - Episode 1   Episode 2    Episode 3   Episode 4
The Emperor's Lost Harbor - YouTube
The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1  Episode 2   Episode 3  Episode 4
Charlemagne and the Saxons:  YouTube

Middle Ages
The Hanseatic League - YouTube
Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4
How One Village Survived the Plague: YouTube
Arnolfini - YouTube
The Black Prince - YouTube

2024 Documentary Recommendations
Middle Ages
William the Conqueror - YouTube (51:39)
This is the story of William the Conqueror.  He made his mark in history by invading England in 1066.  Who was the real William the Conqueror?  The primary source records are scarce when it comes to William's history.  When was William the Conqueror born?  What were his motivations for invading England?  He goes down in history as a brave man but was he really that brave?  What was he really like?  This docudrama is a dramatic retelling of William the Conqueror’s Story.  *Highly recommended for research purposes as well as a fun history day viewing.*

Marco Polo - YouTube (50:43)
It is the 13th Century and Marco Polo is going to embark on a voyage to China.  However, doubts exist that he made it to China.  The scale of his adventures defies belief and his account becomes a best seller of the Middle Ages.  Is there legitimate proof that Marco Polo was in China?  Even on his death bed, he hinted that he had only told half the story.  Today, historians are looking at the documents to prove that he was there.  Who was the real Marco Polo?  *Highly recommended for research and a history classes.*

The Hanseatic League - YouTube (43:27)
Recovering the Traces of the Hanseatic League explored the seas three hundred years before the Portuguese started exploring.  Not all ships made it back.  Ships, storms, and pirates could sink these ships.  The Hanseatic League was founded in the 1200s.  They were a trading organization.  They were a trading network that had extensive contacts in Europe.  They focused on the Baltic Sea and what remains of this league is found on the bottom.  What can these wrecks tell us about the Hanseatic League?

Europe in the Middle Ages - Episode 1 (52:30)  Episode 2 (54:22)  Episode 3  (51:56) Episode 4 (52:23)
The Middle Ages were often considered a dark and dreary time.  Four estates lived during this time: knights, monks, peasants, and beggars.  This series follows the lives of people from each level of society.  You will see the Middle Ages through their eyes.  What was the reality of that?  However, it is a time when the modern age was born.  So what can we discover about the Middle Ages through these groups?  Was the Middle Ages all that dark?  *Highly recommended for the middle school history classroom.*

Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1 (59:15) Episode 2 (58:24) Episode 3 (58:49) Episode 4 (58:50)
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 doing building projects.  This is a STEM and STEAM-heavy series. *Highly recommend for a middle school and high school history and science classroom.*

How One Village Survived the Plague: YouTube (49:10)
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?  *Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*

The Black Prince - YouTube (28:56)
​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?  *Highly recommended for a history class and a home economics class.  Highly recommended for independent study students.*

Arnolfini - YouTube (28:51)
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.   *Highly recommended for a history class, Art History, and a home economics class.*

The Renaissance The Age of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci - Episode 1 (42:25) Episode 2  (42:25)
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 Machine that Made Us - YouTube (58:56)
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.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.
 
2023 Documentary Recommendations
Dark Ages
536 AD: The Year The Sun Disappeared Episode 1  Episode 2
Dark Ages: An Age of Light - Episode 1   Episode 2    Episode 3   Episode 4
The Emperor's Lost Harbor - YouTube
The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1  Episode 2   Episode 3  Episode 4
Charlemagne and the Saxons:  YouTube


Middle Ages
The Hanseatic League - YouTube
Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4
How One Village Survived the Plague: YouTube
Arnolfini - YouTube
The Black Prince - YouTube


2024 Documentary Recommendations
Dark Ages
Empire of the Mongols - YouTube (48:12)
Mongols had built a large empire that claimed half the world in under a century.  This empire spanned from the Korean Peninsula to Europe.  It began with 100,000 men.  The Mongol invasion of Europe began with the fall of Kyiv and struck panic into the people.  How could such a small group of men bring Europe to its knees?  What technology was available at the time to enable such an expansion?  Who was the leader of the Mongols?  This documentary looks at the rise of the Mongol Empire.  *Recommended for a history class.*

The Emperor's Lost Harbor - YouTube (41:48)
Istanbul is a city of 17 million people, spread over two peninsulas. Only two bridges and several ferries serve those 17 million people who cross the Bosporus straight.  The Turkish Government is looking to build a train under the Bosporus to help with people crossing the straights.  The tunnel will have to be put fifty meters under the surface.  This would be the deepest tunnel in the world.  However, as the tunnel was put into place there have been amazing finds that tell us about the history of the harbor in Istanbul.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school history classroom.*

536 AD: The Year The Sun Disappeared Episode 1 (49:15)  Episode 2 (49:28)
The year 536 AD was the year dubbed the “year without something.”  This was an event that terrified the people.  The sun went dark and the rain the color of blood poured from the skies.  Winter gripped the land for two years.  Drought, famine, and plague followed.  Whole cities were whipped out and civilization crumbled.  What happened?  What was going on?  This catastrophe affected the people around the world and nobody knew the answers until now.  *Highly recommended for a history and a science class.*

Dark Ages: An Age of Light - Episode 1 (59:11)  Episode 2  (59:29)  Episode 3 (59:14)  Episode 4 (59:53)
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.  *First episode recommended for art history class and not recommended for a history class.*

Charlemagne - Episode 1 (50:42)  Episode 2  (50:14)  Episode 3 (51:56)
Charlemagne was the most important Emperor of the Middle Ages.  The story begins with a monk gathering wood for a fire.  He was a scholar in Charlemagne’s court and was his friend.  He is the narrator of Charlemagne’s story.  He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day.  He was the most powerful ruler of his time.  Even the pope was intimidated by him.  He was superhuman.  However, what is a myth, and what is reality?  *Recommended for the history classroom and research purposes.*

The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1 (49:55) Episode 2 (49:32)  Episode 3 (49:52) Episode 4 (49:58)
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.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom.  Highly recommended to mine for clips.*

Ascent of Civilization - The Vikings - YouTube (50:31)
The Vikings discovered America 500 years before Columbus and revolutionized exploring and trading.  The Vikings lived in the north of Europe in widely scattered communities.  The Romans called it Scandinavia.  It was a land of fire and ice.  In the beginning, the Vikings lived peacefully along the coastlines.  That changed when they started to terrorize Europe.  No man, woman, or child was safe from Viking raids.   So how did this group of seafarers change Europe?  *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for a high school history class.*

The Vikings - Episode 1 (44:49) Episode 2 (43:51) Episode 3  (44:05)
Norway was the early cradle of the Vikings, the last barbarians.  How did they dominate the seas and waterways of Europe?  These warriors traveled around the globe.  They created trade networks and built kingdoms.  However, their origins are mysterious.  Modern archeologists are determined to find the origins.  So what made them feared warriors?  What made them skilled storytellers?  What made the Vikings kingdom builders?  Who were the Vikings?  *Highly recommend for a middle school and high school history class.*

Charlemagne and the Saxons:  YouTube (42:48)
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. *Highly recommend for a middle school and high school history classroom.*

Otto and The Empire:  YouTube (42:51)
Otto of Saxony was a German duke who helped forge the Holy Roman Empire.  He united the Germans to fight the Magyars.  Otto then put down rebellions and created laws.  His second marriage caused controversy among the people.  He went to Rome to be crowned the Holy Roman Emperor.  This is another excellent documentary about German History.  *Highly recommend it for a middle school and high school history classroom.*

Good morning teachers!  Summer is winding down and I’m sure that you are starting to plan for the following school year.  So what will show up as a recommended documentary show for the upcoming 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, agriculture, English, or art classroom.  I have published over 500 documentary reviews, so if you disagree with this list, 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.  First, we will look at last year’s list, and then I will put in my recommendations for 2024.

2023 Recommended Documentaries
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME
Meet the Romans with Mary Beard - Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3
Storm over Europe - Episode 1  Episode 2 Episode 3   Episode 4 
*The Minoans - YouTube
*Athens: The Truth about Democracy - YouTube

ANCIENT CHINA
Diva Mummy - YouTube
Mysterious Hanging Coffins - YouTube
The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube
Confucius - YouTube
Genius of the Ancient World - Amazon 

2024 Recommended Documentaries
Ancient Rome
Rome without Limits with Mary Beard - Episode 1 (58:34) Episode 2 (59:00) Episode 3 (58:59) Episode 4 (59:00)
Mary Beard explores the history of the Roman Empire beginning with the origin myths, the period of the republic, and the Empire.  She explores the Roman Empire beyond Rome and travels to a variety of places that were a part of the Empire.  She concludes the series with the question why did Rome fall?  It is a fascinating dive into the Roman Empire.  This documentary is a needed update to what available documentaries.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom.  If you do not have space for all the documentaries, then show clips.*
 
Ancient Rome - YouTube (52:29)
Ancient Rome held one million inhabitants at one point.  No one city was richer, more powerful, or more ruthless than Roman.  It was the center of the ancient world and had the buildings to prove it.  Like modern Rome, the city was noisy back then, so ox carts could not drive through the city during the day.  When the Roman Coliseum opened, a one-hundred-day celebration was held in honor of its opening.  What was it about Rome that made it the glory of the ancient world?  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school history classroom.*
 
Colosseum  - YouTube (1:28:18)
The Colosseum was Rome’s greatest monument.  However, it is now under threat.  A team of restorationists and historians come together to save the Colosseum.  It was where heroes were made and then broken.  Many came to witness the drama that took place within its wall.  Beneath and grime, secrets are being revealed.  What can this restoration tell us about the Colosseum?  What will the restored Colosseum look like?  *Highly recommended for a history and STEM classroom.*
 
The Limes - Episode 1 (43:01)  Episode 2 (42:45)
Two thousand years ago, there was a heavily fortified border along stretches of Europe.  They were known as the Limes and these were palisades, walls, and trenches.  These were on lands that stretched across Germany.  These were an attempt by the Roman Empire to keep the barbarians out.  However, along these walls, villages would form, protected by the boundary and the Roman Legions.  Using modern technology, archeologists, historians, and scientists are going to learn more about these posts.  *Recommended for a history class, episode 2 recommended for a STEM class.*
 
Vesuvius - YouTube (53:34)
The day Vesuvius erupted was an ordinary day for the citizens of Herculaneum and Pompeii.  This documentary focuses on Herculaneum, the other city that was buried when Vesuvius erupted.  For decades archeologists and scientists thought the people escaped.  However, new evidence is emerging that demonstrates that is not the case.  This is another fantastic updated documentary on Vesuvius.  *Highly recommended for middle school and high school classrooms.*
 
Ancient China
The Only Empress of China - YouTube (48:02)
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.  *Recommend for middle school and high school classrooms.  Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.*

The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube (1:39:33)
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?  *Recommend for high school classrooms.  Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.*

Confucius - YouTube (1:28:27)
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.  *Highly recommended for a high school history class or class projects.*

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.*

The Mystery of the Jade Suit - YouTube (43:27)
In 1983, construction workers discovered a tomb entrance while excavating a site for a new apartment building.  This tomb entrance was dated 2000 years ago.  The most curious object in the tomb was a jade suit.  However, no historical record showed that an Emperor was entitled to be buried in a jade suit.  Who was this man?  Why did he deserve such an honor of being buried in a jade suit?  What will Agnes discover about this man?  *RECOMMENDED for a history class and for independent study students.*