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 600 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.

2024 Suggested Documentaries
The Secret Diary of the Holocaust - YouTube (50:23)
Auschwitz: The Forgotten Evidence - YouTube (58:48)
Eva - YouTube (56:09)
Unsinkable! Japan's Lost Battleship - YouTube (54:58)
Battle 360: Battle of Leyte Gulf - YouTube (54:53)
World War II in Numbers - Episode 3 Backs to the Wall - YouTube (45:02)
World War II in Numbers - Episode 4 Global War - YouTube (44:57)
Battle of the Bulge - YouTube (46:33)
Women Who Made History - Sophie Scholl - YouTube (51:09)
Leningrad - The Hero City - YouTube (51:59)

2025 Suggested Documentaries
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.*

Sinking the Hood - YouTube (53:19)
On May 24, 1941, the Hood was sunk by the Bismarck.  There were only three survivors.  The British public was shocked to hear that their flagship had sunk so quickly.  There were two boards of inquiry to determine why the Hood sunk so quickly, but they were inconclusive.  In 2012, there was an expedition to the wreck site to discover why the Hood sunk so quickly.  It was also an expedition to recover the bell from the Hood.  *Recommended for a history classroom as well as for research purposes.*

Station X - YouTube (1:53:15)
Bletchley Park was Britain’s super secret headquarters for cracking German codes during World War II.  Germany employed the Enigma machine and this was a machine that produced unbreakable codes.  Against all the odds school boys, academics, and crossword fanatics worked to crack those codes.  Once those codes were cracked Germany’s greatest weapon was turned into Germany’s greatest liability.  This documentary is a first-hand account of what went on in Bletchley Park. *This is 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.*

The Outbreak of World War II - The First Victim (48:17)  The First Day (48:12)
Poland fell under the Nazi Blitzkrieg which would start World War II.  This attack would last for six weeks.  However, its consequences for Poland would be devastating.  Poland would endure the harshest conditions under the Nazi regime.  The governor of Poland Hans Frank would have the power of life and death over the Polish people.  He would rule Poland with brutality and would eventually come to justice for his crimes.  *Highly recommended for a history class.*

Screaming Eagles - YouTube (53:58)
The Screaming Eagles were an integral part of the allied strategy during World War II.  They were the ones who would parachute into enemy territory and take down targets before the main army arrived.  Their training forged them together into a tight-knit fighting force.  These soldiers were the first soldiers to land in Normandy and would have a huge impact on turning the war into the Allies favor.  *HIGHLY recommended for both a history class, independent study students as well as for research purposes.*

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.*

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.*

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 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 600 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 2025.

2024 Suggested Documentaries
Lusitania - YouTube (52:37)
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)
The First Tank Battle - YouTube  (44:11)
The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube (50:31)
SS Armenian - YouTube (49:31)
The Kaiser's Pirates - YouTube (52:15)
100 Years on the Lincoln Highway - YouTube (56:58)
Amelia: A Tale of Two Sisters - YouTube (44:02)

2025 Suggested Documentaries
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 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.*

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.*

Drain the Ocean - Ultimate Battleship - YouTube (47:22)
These were the most powerful weapons of war.  Nations rushed to build them in order to dominate the seas.  The Battle of Jutland in the North Sea was the site of one of the greatest battles of World War I.  It was a battle where both sides would claim victory becoming one of the most mysterious battles of World War I.  Who really won the Battle of Jutland during World War I?  What caused a large fleet to disappear?  Why was a Jutland survivor sunk in her own harbor.  What secrets will be revealed draining the seas?  *Recommended for a history class.*

Call to Arms - YouTube (47:25)
When war was declared in 1914, millions of British men signed up for the war believing that it would be a quick war.  These men rode on a wave of patriotic euphoria believing that the war would be an adventure.  However, the reality of the war started to settle in.  Soldiers from World War I were interviewed and now these voices have been brought together for the first time in a documentary series.  Now those voices are silent.  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

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.*

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 Truth About Franco: Inside Spain's Forgotten Dictatorship - Episode 1 (53:11)  Episode 2 (52:50)  Episode 3 (52:31)  Episode 4 (53:38)
Francisco Franco was a Spanish general who seized power in Spain during the Civil War.  He was considered one of Europe’s most enigmatic dictators.  He would rule Spain with an iron fist for four decades.  He once said that he had no problem killing Spain to prevent the Marxists from taking over.  He was a man who had many faces but could not shut up.  Spain still has the scars of his reign.  Who was the man? *Highly recommended for a history class and for use in research projects.*

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.*

When the World Breaks - YouTube (1:28:33)
The Great Depression was an era of poverty, but it was also a time of creativity.  The stock market had crashed leaving thousands without jobs.  This documentary looks into the use of creativity, art, and entertainment that was used as a form of survival during the Great Depression.  This documentary features a variety of actors and comedians such as Jane Harvey, Jerry Stiller, Phyllis Diller, and Art Linkletter.  *Recommended for a history 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 2025.

2024 Suggested Documentaries
1900 Island - Episode 1 (58:56) Episode 2 (58:55) Episode 3 (58:51) Episode 4  (58:55)
*Edwardian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Christabel and Sylvia: A Tale of Two Sisters - YouTube (43:51)
The Secrets of a Suffragette - YouTube (46:52)
Frank Lloyd Wright - YouTube (59:15)
First Flight: The Race to Create the World's First Flying Machine - YouTube (52:49)
Waking the Titanic - YouTube (51:23)
Beatrix Potter - YouTube (46:58)
Hidden Killers of the Edwardian Home - YouTube (58:44)


2025 Suggested Documentaries
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.*

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.*

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.*

Drain the Titanic - YouTube (44:24)
The most infamous ship in all history.  She was the largest man-made human object at the time.  She was built in a time when people wanted to cross the Atlantic in a fast time.  She was built for luxury.  She would sink on her maiden voyage taking down with her many secrets.   Although many eyewitnesses survived the ship sinking, there is not much known about how she sunk.  She would be discovered once again in pieces on the ocean floor.   Will the mystery of Titanic’s final moments finally be solved?  *Highly recommended for middle school and high school classrooms.*

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.*

*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.*

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.*

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.*

The Gilded Age - YouTube (1:53:11)
The Gilded Age was an age of confidence. America was rapidly becoming an economic powerhouse on the world stage.  It was also an age of excess and parties for the elite.  It was a period of optimism and opportunity.  However, there was a wider and wider gap between the rich and the poor.  The rich gathered at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City to host a ball.  The price tag of the ball could have fed 1,000 working-class people for one year.  So what underlies the Gilded Age?  *Recommended for a history 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 2025.

2024 Recommendation Documentaries
 Krakatoa: The Great Volcanic Eruption - YouTube (1:25:34)
Citizen - YouTube (56:46)
*Full Steam Ahead: Episode 1 (58:16)  Episode 2  (58:16)  Episode 3  (58:13)  Episode 4 (58:10)
The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts - Episode 1  (58:47)  Episode 2 (59:14) Episode 3 (59:14) Episode 4 (59:12)
*Victorian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Queen Victoria: A Monarch Unveiled:  Episode 1 (58:51) Episode 2 (58:52)
Victoria and Albert: The Wedding: Amazon (2:00:00)

2025 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.*

A Castle Full of Secrets: Neuschwanstein -YouTube (51:30)
Neuschwanstein Castle is a place of myths and legends.  It was a childhood dream of a future King and became one of the most exciting building projects in the world.  The foundation stone was laid on September 5, 1869, by King Ludwig II of Bavaria.  He would not live long enough to live in this lovely castle.  His sudden death gave the castle its legendary status.  Soon after his death, the castle was opened to show the public how crazy the dead king one.  It would survive two world wars and would become the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty.  *Highly recommended for both a history and geography class.  Highly recommended for research purposes.*

Royal Wreck of Gold - YouTube (52:42)
It is October 26, 1859, and the Royal Charter ship is making its way from Melbourne to Liverpool.  The Royal Charter entered British waters when one of the most severe storms ever to hit Britain took the ship down.  The ship not only drags her human passengers down to the bottom but a treasure trove of gold.  This fortune, amounting to $130 Million was discovered in Australia and ended up at the bottom of the sea.  Vince Thurkettle, a shipwreck hunter is looking to find this lost treasure.  What will be recovered from the bottom of the sea?  Why did this ship go down?  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

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.*

The American Civil War - YouTube (55:40)
This is an older documentary about the American Civil War.  It discusses what lead up to the war, the 1860 Election and how this election would prompt the Civil War.  It talks about the big battles of the war.  It also talks about the key figures who took part of the Civil War.  Technology was discussed and how it would impact the Civil War.  It is an older documentary but very well done.  The Civil War would shape American history.  *Recommended for both history classes as well as for research purposes.*

Secrets of the Civil War - YouTube (47:22)
It was one of the first wars where technology had an impact.  The sea was where the majority of the Civil War was shaped.  The war was fought on both the sea and the rivers.  There are 2000 Civil War wrecks on the sea floor.  The USS Cumberland was the first naval casualty of the Civil War and took part in one of the first naval battles of the Civil War.  The second ship participated in the battle and was revolutionary in its design.  Another ship reveals a new type of weapon that could sink ships.  What does draining the ocean reveal about the American Civil War.  *Recommended for a history and science 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 Bakers - Episode 1 (54:33) Episode 2 (52:52) Episode 3 (49:46)
Four modern bakers will be sent back to Victorian Times.  They will start in the rural bakeries of the 1840s, to industrial bakeries, and finally the high street bakery.  Our four bakers will experience 63 years of history.  They will experience the conditions of a Victorian Bakery.  The bakers will experience hard work and will try things that have not been baked in over a century.  They will learn more about the bakery trade.  *Recommended for a food science class and history 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.*

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 600 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 2025.


2024 Recommendation Documentaries
Germans: Frederick and the Empress:  YouTube (42:29)
King George III: Genius of a Mad King: YouTube (58:56)
War of 1812 - YouTube (1:53:16)
1755: The Lisbon Earthquake - YouTube (49:15)
Marie Antoinette - YouTube (28:54)
*Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors: YouTube (58:49)
The Brilliant Bronte Sisters - YouTube (46:49)
Women Who Made History: Queen Luise - YouTube  (50:57)
Furnace in the Forest - YouTube (47:59) Series 18
Rubble at the Mill - YouTube (48:47) Series 13

2025 Recommendation Documentaries
Atahualpa: Death of the Last Inca Emperor - YouTube (45:14)
On July 26, 1533, Atahualpa was executed.  It was said that the general who ordered his death shed a tear.  Just before his execution he had been baptized a Catholic and took the name Francisco.  He was the last ruler of an empire that had stood for centuries.  It was the biggest empire that the Americas had ever known.  Atahualpa’s death would signal the end of that empire.  *HIGHLY recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

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.*

The Last Days of Marie Antoinette - YouTube (1:44:10)
Marie Antoinette would go down in history as France’s tragic Queen.  She was a mother and a wife.  She was a woman caught up in a situation nobody could have dreamed of.  The year is 1793 and France has been a republic for the last four months.  This is the story of her last 72 days of life after the Revolution swept away the royal family and kings.  New documents reveal that her trial was rigged.  *Recommended for a history class, this docu-drama can be divided into section easy to show in a classroom.*

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.*

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.*

*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.*

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 600 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 2025.

2024 Recommendation Documentaries
The Boy King: Edward VI: YouTube (47:59)
The Origins of Bloody Mary - YouTube (48:21)
Elizabeth I - Episode 1 (44:39) Episode 2 (44:36) Episode 3 (44:20)
The Women Who Made History – Elizabeth - YouTube (43:33)
The Great Fire – Episode 1 (44:20) Episode 2 (44:32) Episode 3 (44:32)
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)
Tiny Holland, Great Holland - YouTube (47:27)
The Great Plague - Episode 1 (43:50)  Episode 2 (44:18)  Episode 3 (44:13)


2025 Recommendation Documentaries
*England's Forgotten Queen: Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey: Episode 1 (58:36)  Episode 2 (58:49) Episode 3 (58:44)
Helen Castor explores the life and death of Lady Jane Grey, the nine-days queen of England.  She was the first woman to be proclaimed Queen of England and one of the more controversial characters in Tudor History.  She goes into each day of her reign and the activities that happened on that day.  It is a fascinating look into the life and death of Jane Grey.  It breathes new life into that story.  *Recommend for research purposes for high school history.*

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 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.*

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 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.*

The Gunpowder Plot - YouTube (1:16:36)
In 1605 in Westminster, a group of Catholic Conspirators hatched a plot to assassinate the King, Queen, and Parliament by setting fire to 36 barrels of gunpowder.  This gunpowder was beneath the British Parliament.  These conspirators were led by the charismatic Robert Catesby, however, it was Guy Fawkes that was caught red-handed.  This documentary dives into the intrigue, and betrayal followed by the arrest and trial of the conspirators.  *Highly recommended for a history class.*

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. *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.*

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.*

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 600 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 2025.

2025 Renaissance and Reformation
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 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.*

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.*

How To Get Ahead - Renaissance Court -YouTube (59:18)
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 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.*

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.*

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.*

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 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 John 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.*

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 2025.
 
2024 Documentary Recommendations
Middle Ages
William the Conqueror - YouTube (51:39)
Marco Polo - YouTube (50:43)
The Hanseatic League - YouTube (43:27)
Europe in the Middle Ages - Episode 1 (52:30)  Episode 2 (54:22)  Episode 3  (51:56) Episode 4 (52:23)
Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1 (59:15) Episode 2 (58:24) Episode 3 (58:49) Episode 4 (58:50)
How One Village Survived the Plague: YouTube (49:10)
The Black Prince - YouTube (28:56)
Arnolfini - YouTube (28:51)
The Renaissance The Age of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci - Episode 1 (42:25) Episode 2  (42:25)
The Machine that Made Us - YouTube (58:56)


2025 Documentary Recommendations
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.*

Women Who Made History - Joan of Arc - YouTube (50:27)
Joan of Arc liberated France.  She challenged soldiers, generals, and the church.  It was May of 1429 and Joan was leading her soldiers against the English holding a fortress.  If the French took control of the fort, the Orleans would be free.  The English had been on French soil for decades and now the French were rising against them to take control of France again.  Joan of Arc was leading those French soldiers to victory.  *Highly recommended for a history classroom and for independent study students.*

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?  *Recommended for a history class.*

Ivan the Terrible: Russia's First Tsar - YouTube (52:23)
He was orphaned as a child.  He was brought up in a system of political violence.  He liberates Russia from foreign leaders.  He committed his first murder at the age of thirteen.  He was the first Tsar of Russia.  Was he a harsh ruler who demanded absolute loyalty?  Or was he an intellectual?  Who is the real Ivan the Terrible?  A criminal profiler looks for those answers.  Additionally, Ivan’s face will be reconstructed during this documentary.  *Highly recommended for a high school history class and for research purposes.*

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.*

The Rose of Rouen - YouTube (49:20)
The feud between the houses of York and Lancaster finally comes to an end.  The struggle for power continues to escalate.  The Battle of St. Albans rocked English nobility.  The Duke of York takes control of England as protector and defender, however, Queen Margaret would not let this happen standing still.  Queen Margaret was a foreigner in the English court.  She was a woman who took power at a time when women did not take power.  However, she was a woman who was willing to defend her and her husband’s rights.  Why did she become the center of War of the Roses?  *Recommended for a history class.*

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.*

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.*

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.
 
2024 Documentary Recommendations
Dark Ages
Empire of the Mongols - YouTube (48:12)
The Emperor's Lost Harbor - YouTube (41:48)
536 AD: The Year The Sun Disappeared Episode 1 (49:15)  Episode 2 (49:28)
Dark Ages: An Age of Light - Episode 1 (59:11)  Episode 2  (59:29)  Episode 3 (59:14)  Episode 4 (59:53)
Charlemagne - Episode 1 (50:42)  Episode 2  (50:14)  Episode 3 (51:56)
The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1 (49:55) Episode 2 (49:32)  Episode 3 (49:52) Episode 4 (49:58)
Ascent of Civilization - The Vikings - YouTube (50:31)
The Vikings - Episode 1 (44:49) Episode 2 (43:51) Episode 3  (44:05)
Charlemagne and the Saxons:  YouTube (42:48)
Otto and The Empire:  YouTube (42:51)

2025 Documentary Recommendations
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.*

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.*

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.*

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.*

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.*

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.*

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.*

Varangian Guard - YouTube (49:30)
The Varangian Guard was an elite group of Viking soldiers.  They were renowned for their brutality and loyalty.  This group struck fear throughout Europe.  They had their choice of weapons: ax, spear, or sword.  The Byzantine Emperor looked at them and decided to hire a guard for protection.  The emperor ruled the biggest and richest state and he looked for someone to help keep him in power.  *Recommended for older history students and for research purposes.*

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 2025.

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)
Ancient Rome - YouTube (52:29)
Colosseum  - YouTube (1:28:18)
The Limes - Episode 1 (43:01)  Episode 2 (42:45)
Vesuvius - YouTube (53:34)

Ancient China
The Only Empress of China - YouTube (48:02)
The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube (1:39:33)
Confucius - YouTube (1:28:27)
Diva Mummy - YouTube (49:47)
The Mystery of the Jade Suit - YouTube (43:27)


2025 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.*

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.*

Rise of Great Powers - Rome - YouTube (49:57)
Rome would rise from the ashes of defeat to create an Empire that would cover the Mediterranean world.  After suffering a horrendous defeat at the hands of Hannibal Barca, Rome would go on the offensive and rise from that defeat.  How would they rise from this horrible defeat?  What was the secret behind the rise of Rome?  In this episode, the secret behind the rise of Rome is revealed and it is Roman citizenship.  Why would Rome employ citizenship to build an empire?  *Recommended for a history classroom.*

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 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.*

Ancient China
Lost Treasures of the Silk Road - YouTube (50:31) 
It was thought that the Chinese Middle Empire had developed independently of the West.  Mighty mountains and deserts seemed to be impossible barriers to cross.  However, there have been archeological discoveries that may dispute that theory.  Mummies from the Bronze Age have been discovered and extraordinarily well preserved in the desert.  What shocked the archeological world was that these mummies did not come from China.  Who were they?  How much did Western civilization influence China?  *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes.  Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*

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 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.*

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.*

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.*