Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening, depending on when you are reading this. Wow! I cannot believe Get Factual put up the last episode of the Silk Road documentary pretty quickly after episode two was posted. It took a long time, but I can at last finish up the Silk Road documentary. The run time for this episode is 52:14 and is called Revolutions.
The story begins with paper and the paper-making process. Chinese invented paper and many historians believe that the Silk Road should have been named the Paper Road. The paper had a huge impact on history, bigger than silk did. It was believed that paper was invented in the year 100 by a eunuch and he was using it to write. However, there is evidence that paper was invented further back and that it was used to wrap things. The Chinese would use bamboo to write on. However, if you were writing a novel there would be many bamboo shafts that would be needed. Eventually, the switch to paper was made because it was lighter in comparison to bamboo shafts. Eventually, the paper would leave China as a result of Buddhism. The Chinese Buddhists were interested in finding the writings of the Buddha. They traveled to India to get Buddha’s words. Eventually, a Buddhist library would be established in China and the monks would make paper from ropes and rags. The popularity of paper spread as a result of Buddhism and its usefulness for commercial accounts. Papermaking would spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Islam rose and would invade Central Asia. The Arab World and the Chinese world would clash. The Arabs were making their own paper. How they learned those skills is up today. The legend is that the Chinese army had paper makers and they were captured by the Arabs and taught the Arabs how to make paper. Reality may be very different and the Arabs may have learned paper-making as a result of the Silk Road. The Islamic government officials helped make the paper a valuable part of the government. The cheap paper also fueled the writing of books and fueled an age of literature and learning. I can understand why historians would want to call the Silk Road the Paper Road. It seemed that it was in Spain that Europeans encountered paper. However, in the same breath, it was mentioned that Venetian merchants would have encountered paper in the Muslim world too. Merchants would have witnessed paper use and would have brought it back. The paper was eyed with suspicion because the paper was flimsy in comparison to parchment. The Holy Roman Emperor required documents written on paper to be transcribed to parchment. However with a growing middle class, paper would be a cheaper alternative to parchment. Europe could also mass-produce paper, the rivers, and streams would provide the energy to produce paper pulp. Linen rags were also plentiful in Europe and it was a good source to make paper. Fabriano and Amalfi, two Italian towns, would become the leaders in paper manufacturers in Europe. The cheap paper would change Europe in many ways. To learn more about the ways continue to follow along with this section. Artists and writers would have been able to write and draw their ideas out. Drawing took off during this time as a result of the paper. Parchment was too expensive to waste. Meanwhile, printing was invented in East Asia. Printing allowed for standardization in printing and mass book printing took off. To learn more about the impact of books and the printing press continue to watch this episode to find out. I have to say, Esther reminds me of historians that present on Mysteries of the Abandoned. Her tone and cadence really took me to the Mysteries of the Abandoned series. The paper discussion was very well done and really went in depth about the spread of the paper. I can agree that maybe the Silk Road should be called the Paper Road. Over all, this would be an excellent episode to show in a history class because of the well-done presentation on paper and the impact of paper on the world. I would also use this for research purposes.
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Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening depending on when you are reading this blog. Today I am looking at a documentary on the Silk Road. This is the second episode in How the Silk Road Made the World series. This episode is called Light from Darkness. The run time for this documentary is 52:14.
This episode kicks off with the English defeating the French at the Battle of Crecy. The English are using a new invention that was imported from China on the Silk Road: gunpowder. Two thousand kilometers from Crecy in Caffa, another battle is looming. The Mongols are sieging the City of Caffa a Silk Road trading post. The city had held out for two years. Suddenly the Mongol army collapsed as a result of a mysterious disease. The Mongols tossed the corpses over the city walls and the residents died as a result of this disease. Soon this disease started spreading throughout Europe: The Black Death. In under a decade, one-third of Europe’s population was decimated. Today, scientists believe that the Black Death was spread through disease-ridden fleas that traveled on the backs of rodents. Not only did the Silk Road promote an exchange of trade and technology but disease. However, there is a sudden transition as to the crops that were transported. It made the documentary feel disjointed going from disease to food corps. Maybe the filmmakers should have changed the order of the documentary between crop and disease exchange. The archeological records document the arrival of Chinese Millett to Europe. However, it is not clear how or why this millet was transported from China to Europe. At least until discoveries in China lead to the conclusion that Millet farmers were seeking water. In addition to the transport of Millet to the West, Europe sent wheat to China. This would have changed farming dynamics in both Europe and China. Millet requires a shorter growing season in comparison to wheat, so in Europe, farmers could sneak in another crop before winter. Like Secrets of the Castle, this is another documentary that highlights that people moved more than you thought they did. There is a continued discussion on how crops moved across the Silk Road as well. This discussion centers on a Silk Road post. This post was a cosmopolitan post. The toilet paper was discovered in this post. The Chinese people would use a cloth-wrapped stick to wipe themselves. Scientists have studied the sticks and the cloth around the sticks to discover many different organisms. This leads to a discussion on the Chinese Liver Fluke and this was a demonstration of how humans could carry diseases long distances. This leads to a discovery in Germany. A mass grave with four hundred people was discovered. Why were these people buried in one place? There was one clue discovered: the people were buried in the Sixth Century. The Plague of Justinian was ravaging the known world. About half the people died. There were so many corpses nobody knew how or where to bury them. Eventually, the bodies were thrown into watch towers and sealed off. The plague arrived in Constantinople from Egypt on ships. A scientist examines the bones from the grave, looking for more clues about the Justinian Plague. Perhaps the bones can tell what the disease was. So where did this disease come from? There is a return to the discussion on the Black Death and how it came to Europe from Central Asia. It swept through Europe. Nobody would have known what to do to combat this disease. Physicians were confused as to treat it. Did people fleeing from the Black Death cause it to spread even faster? To learn more about the Silk Road continue to watch this documentary. The discussion on crop and food movement does not seem to fit in with this documentary because it focused on the spread of disease and bacteria. If there was more evidence about crop movement, that discussion would have been better served by a separate episode, leaving the focus on disease. The recreations were done well and the participants spoke well on the subject. I would put this on my potential list to show to a history classroom and would be using this documentary for research purposes. Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening! I am going to review the final episode of the series More That Just Enemies. The run time for this episode is 51:51.
Prince Eugene of Savoy was a man who was reckless, he did not listen to advice. The story begins with orders to for his troops to move to surprise the troops. They march to surprise the Ottoman Troops. However, Prince Eugene’s recklessness turns the tide of battle. He was also the man who could see and foresee the direction of the battle and this skill made him one of the great generals in history. If he did not have soldiers to fight, he would join the battle as well. This was illustrated in the documentary when he and several men took a cannon. The Hapsburg soldiers threw themselves into battle and the Ottomans were routed. Many drowned in the river because they could not swim. Prince Eugene of Savoy only lost 500 men in this battle. War was particularly brutal against the Turks. The Battle of Zenta puts an end to the Ottoman Empire’s expansion. One prized possession of the battle was the seal of the Sultan and today it is on display in a museum. The rest of the Sultan’s war chest was “destroyed in the battle.” After this battle, Prince Eugene was able to pay off his debts and expand his palace. He rose quickly in society because he flaunted normal conventions. Prince Eugene quickly purchases land and build grand palaces. His victories, give Prince Eugene status and wealth. Although he was a general and soldier, he was a businessman and a shrewd moneyman. He even went to the London stock exchange and made out war loans in his name to refill his war coffers. This victory also enabled the Hapsburg Empire to expand. The Ottoman Empire had to surrender more land to the Hapsburg. This loss of territory did not sit well with the Ottoman soldiers. Taxes were high and the Ottoman soldiers were not getting paid. However, the Sultan preferred hunting to governance. It was a powder keg that was waiting to explode. In 1703, the Ottoman soldiers rebelled and overthrow Sultan Mustafa II and assassinate the Grand Mufti. In the meantime, the War of the Spanish Succession begins. This section jumps around quickly and feels disjointed to my ear. Prince Eugene of Savoy is on his way to becoming the richest man in the Hapsburg Empire and works to reform the military. There are special corps that were assigned different spots. New tactics were adopted and weapons were unified. Every soldier would have the same type of weapon, instead of using the weapons that their field marshals would pick. Troops are organized into lines. Prince Eugene now heads to France to participate in the War of the Spanish Succession. Prince Eugene was a man who not only tried to increase his wealth but also increased his knowledge as well. He paid artists to work for him and through his influence Baroque art made its way to the Ottoman Empire. Gülnuş Sultan witnesses the Ottoman Troubles. She makes deals with the Ottoman rebels to spare Mustafa II in return for his abdication. Her youngest son would take control and be guided by Gülnuş Sultan: Ahmed III. The Ottoman Empire would now have a cultural heyday. Ibrahim, a Transylvanian who converted to Islam, helps with this heyday. Prince Eugene invites Ibrahim to his palace where he houses the biggest library. They make a deal; the Ottomans would provide the leather that Prince Eugene needed to bind the books. Prince Eugene’s library would expand as a result of the deal. Ibrahim brings back some books from Prince Eugene’s library as a souvenir. To learn more about Prince Eugene of Savoy watch the rest of the documentary. This is a good conclusion to the series and provides an excellent glimpse at a period of history we really do not study in school. At least I do not remember studying it in school. The recreations were very well done and it was a good look at the later life of Prince Eugene of Savoy. This would be a good documentary for research purposes. Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening depending on when you are reading this. I am constantly amazed as I continue to comb through YouTube discovering a variety of different documentaries to review and share. Today, we are looking at a little-known figure from history: Eugene of Savoy. This two-part series is called More Than Just Enemies and the run time for this episode is 51:20.
On October 11, 1697, the Ottoman army is annihilated in the Battle of Zenta. The victorious army was led by Eugene of Savoy and this victory ends the steady rise of the Ottoman Empire. It is a look at the two empires at the time: The Hapsburg Empire and the Ottoman Empire. During times of peace, there were many cultural exchanges. However, there were times of war and thousands were killed as a result. Who were the people that lead these empires? What is the story of the battles between the Hapsburg Empire and the Ottoman Empire. The story begins with Prince Eugene of Savoy. He is one of eight children and he has extraordinary interests. He is growing up under the rule of King Louis XIV and Eugene of Savoy was his son. He is growing up in a world of court politics and intrigues. Even in this world, Eugene of Savoy had a love for knowledge. He enjoyed learning mathematics and astrology. In the Ottoman Empire, they too use astrologers to study the stars. There are court astrologers who tell the fortunes of the Sultan. Astrologers are respected, but it can be a dangerous job. They would tell the Sultan to make war. One wrong prediction and the astrologer could lose their head. It is here we learn about Harem and meet Gülnuş Sultan. She was captured at five years old and sent to the Harem. She, like Eugene of Savoy, had to assert their place. Gülnuş Sultan would eventually become a favorite. The Harem ensured the continuance of the Ottoman Dynasty. Then we go back to the court of Louis XIV and the court politics. Eugene of Savoy’s mother Olympia was mistress of Louis XIV. She was the most important woman in court and rumors flew around her. There were rumors that she used poison to dispatch her rivals. In fact, she becomes accused of several poisonings. She escapes from Paris. Her son Eugene of Savoy was left in the care of the church. His thirst for knowledge seems to be better suited to live in the church. However, he decides on a new path and this is one path that will cause him to rebel against King Louis XIV. Louis did not appreciate the insolence. Eugene of Savoy flees Paris and makes his way to the Hapsburg Empire. It was at the time the Ottoman Empire was expanding its borders towards the Ottoman Empire. Now we find ourselves back at the harem and the tensions among the women, particularly between the sultan’s mother and the favorites. There was also competition between the women who had the Sultan’s sons for power as well. Normally when a new sultan was crowned his brothers would be killed. This section is pretty funny with the recreation of an ambassador and the sultan discussing the Hapsburg emperor. Then the filmmakers show a clip from the Turkish television series The Magnificent Century. Additional to showing this clip, the filmmakers talk about how interest is growing in Turkey in this era in history. The Ottomans were going to march on Vienna. The Hapsburg emperor grows nervous about Ottoman progress. Eugene of Savoy arrives at the Hapsburg court. He is looking to fight for the emperor. Eugene of Savoy asks for a regiment, but the Emperor allows him to volunteer as a soldier. Vienna comes under siege and thousands die in the siege. Will Vienna and the Hapsburgs emerge victorious? Or will Vienna fall? How does Eugene of Savoy deal with the battle? Tune into the rest of this episode to find out more. This is a good change of pace in terms of a documentary exploring this little-taught area of history. The storylines were good and the pacing was very good as well. I also enjoyed hearing from the experts and the recreations were very well done. This would be a documentary to mine for clips for a history class and for research purposes. Good morning, I am going to explore a documentary on the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was considered one of the grandest palaces built and it was the vision of one man. The run time for this episode is 52:42.
The Forbidden City is in the heart of Beijing and was home to the Emperors of China. It was the vision of one man who seized power and this city was a show of his power. He was a despot who seized power by force and he would ruthlessly stamp out anyone who opposed him. It was the grandest palace ever built and it was built in three years under the direction of a brilliant mind. It was home to endless and repeated rituals. However, even as the walls were built the seeds of its destruction were also sown. The city’s roots begin with a successful general riding back after defeating the Mongols. The Mongols ruled China for a hundred years and were expelled. Zhu Di was a brilliant general and a member of the Ming Dynasty. This victory has won him honor and respect. He was an ambitious man and destined for a military career as the fourth son of the emperor. Zhu Di begins his military training young and learns that he can only trust himself. At age forty he has achieved all the ambitions his family laid out for him, now what? History would remember him very differently. Eventually, he marches to the capital and rises against the emperor. He exploits the greed of corrupt courtiers. The men are well paid and the gates of the capital are open. The man makes himself the Emperor of China. The capital is ransacked and the population is helpless to defend themselves against the pillaging. The deposed Emperor disappears without a trace. Did he die? Or did he survive to take his revenge? The new emperor takes the throne anyway. Zhu Di is seen as a usurper by a few officials, which makes them reluctant to serve him. One brave official stands up against the new emperor and is sentenced to death for his opposition. There are more that follow as the new emperor purges the government officials. Not even the officials’ families are spared in this purge. The new emperor secured his position with blood. He endures many a sleepless night and moves the capital to a new city: Beijing. It is here that the new Emperor will demonstrate his power by building a grand palace. It is here that Zhu Di wants to show that he has the mandate of heaven. Work begins immediately by tearing down the old palaces to build the new palace. A brilliant architect is appointed. His name was Kuai Xiang. The only problem is that the architect was a eunuch. Normally eunuchs were forbidden from government offices, but no more under the new emperor. Many eunuchs are appointed to positions in the new emperor’s government. Eunuchs were often prisoners of war and were used as servants and guards. Nobody respected eunuchs or even liked them. In fact, they were the butt of insults and made fun of. It would have been a shock to established government officials to accept a eunuch in their ranks. However, they had the trust of the emperor. This architect was no different and had to please a paranoid emperor. How could this architect please the emperor? Will he lose his life building a city? Will the Emperor be satisfied with the design? Tune into the rest of this episode to find out more. Wow and woah the beginning of this documentary really laid out the roots of the Forbidden Palace under General and Emperor Zhu Di. The story of Kuai Xiang was also interesting especially how the four towers were designed. This episode really goes into how and why the city was built. I also really appreciated seeing the efforts that were made to restore and take care of the Forbidden City in the modern world. The historian’s contributions were very well done as well as the recreations. This is a very well-produced documentary on the Forbidden City and would be something that I would show to a history classroom. Good morning, now for something a little different. We are going to look at a pair of legends from the Wild, Wild West. David Adams is on the trail of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It is called the Last Trail of Butch and Sundance. The run time for this episode is 50:23.
David Adams follows the trail of two American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids in the deserts of Bolivia. They had moved out of the US and settled in South America for a time. In 1908, these two outlaws disappeared south of Bolivia, not far from Argentina. Did they fake their deaths? Or were they killed by the Bolivian Calvary? Why do these outlaws continue to capture the public imagination? David Adams learns more about this mystery and tries to discover the true story of what happened in their final hours. Bolivia was the perfect place for outlaws to settle. Its remoteness provided a hiding place for people running from the law. David Adams starts at the foot of the Andes and ends in San Vincente. Tracing the path of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid will be a challenge. Adams has to find someone who will take him up a winding road. He finds a truck that is making the trip. Thousands of people have been killed on these roads. It is a bouncy ride for David Adams. Adams sees why Butch and Sundance would have settled in this area. The winding and dangerous roads in the craggy mountains would have been excellent for them to hide in. Adams arrives at La Paz, the Bolivian capital. It is the highest capital city in the world. He takes in the remains of its colonial history. La Paz is also famous for its revolutions and there is a witchcraft market. There is a market where you can buy and sell stolen goods. Butch and Sundance would have fled to Bolivia to escape the law and a changing world. These outlaws were running out of time. Adams meets up with his travel guide. He is a member of the Bolivian cavalry, the same soldiers that would have chased down the pair. They meet at a restaurant where Butch would have frequented. The next day, Adams and his travel guide are off-tracing the outlaws’ steps. The outlaws would have continued their wily ways robbing mining camps. Adams notes that both Butch and Sundance would have stood out to the locals and with a big reward for them it would have been tempting for a farmer to turn them in. Butch and Sundance worked in a mining town as payroll guards. Which is funny considering they were bank robbers. However, they would never rob the people they worked for. The steady work did not stop them from taking time and performing a train robbery. David Adams tries to board a moving train using his horse and finds it a challenge. He concludes that Butch Cassidy and Sundance were expert horsemen. David Adams tries his own experiment but nobody warned him about slippery riding boots. This section is rather amusing with David Adams trying to perform the same feet that Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid. Adams goes to a post office and explores how important the post office was for Sundance and Butch. Butch Cassidy would write home frequently. After the trip to the post office, they would often go out to party. However, they stuck out among people and the law would soon close in on them. Adams continues to follow the trail of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, learning about the harsh realities people face every day. Where did Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid go on their sojourn in Bolivia? What else does David Adams learn about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? How did they get caught? Or did they get caught? Tune into the rest of this episode to find out more. This was a very nice change of pace for the blog. David is really good with his narration exploring Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It was funny that he would try to recreate their trail. This would be a good series for a geography class instead of a history class. Good morning, today is going to feature a docudrama that is a little bit longer than normal. Today I am going to look at an older docudrama about the explosion of Krakatoa. It was always something I meant to look at but never got around to until now. This documentary is from the Naked Science YouTube Channel. The run time for this docudrama is 1:25:35.
On August 27, 1883, Krakatoa Island blew itself out of existence. The eruption was so loud that the sound was heard over a twelfth of the earth’s surface. It sent shockwaves around the world seven times. It also created a tsunami that would have killed a lot of people and the waves were twice the height of the tsunami that happened in 2004. 165 Indonesian villages were wiped out. Even today, scientists and historians are still looking at the impact of this eruption. It was a landmark in how scientists understand how volcanoes impact the planet. The story begins on West Java, Mike Rampino is back on the island after twenty-six years. He is looking at the impact of Krakatoa’s eruption. It was the first eruption that was witnessed by many people and their reactions were documented. Although the eruption did not kill many people in and of itself, it was the tsunami that caused widespread devastation. It was kind of interesting to see how this volcanic eruption was well documented. Krakatoa has erupted a few times. In ancient times, it tore itself apart. Smaller eruptions over time rebuilt the island. Unfortunately, over time the eruptions ceased because the volcano ended up getting plugged up. It would only be a matter of time before Krakatoa would blow. Ketimbag lies at the southern tip of Sumatra and would take its place in history due to the Krakatoa eruption. Ketimbag was an outpost for the Dutch Indies. Colonial authority was stamped on the people. Life was normal. However, something was just lurking beneath the surface. Only the animals knew that something was coming because they could detect the faint tremors that Krakatoa was releasing. The locals had a feeling that Krakatoa was going to erupt again. The lighthouse keeper at Fourth Point Lighthouse would be the first witness to what was to come. There was a Dutch ship passing nearby as well and they would be the closest witnesses to the eruption. Life continued on as normal in the months leading up to the eruption. Earthquakes were starting to happen and were being reported. Unfortunately, nobody knew where these tremors were coming from. The lighthouse keeper saw something in the distance in the direction of Krakatoa and he would be the first to eyewitness the beginnings of the eruption. Krakatoa was an inhabited island. The fishermen used the waters for fishing and the trees were used for building boats. These fishermen and sailors would be the first people to see the initial eruption. Eventually, the shockwave would go out. Scientists were recording the tremors and realizing that there was a volcanic eruption. What they did not realize was the massive scale of the eruption that was going to happen. A ship’s captain recorded what he saw and his journals helped provided a background into the eruption. There was a lull in the activity of Krakatoa but the worse was to come. During this lull, a pair of scientists went to Krakatoa and investigated the devastation of the initial eruption. A report was created which helped give scientists a look at what happened at Krakatoa. To continue to learn more about the Krakatoa explosion watch the rest of this docudrama. This docudrama has a slow build and you hold your breath in anticipation of the eruption. The recreations and the graphics were very well done. The pace of this docudrama was very well done going back and forth between the drama and the scientists researching Krakatoa today. The recreation of the ship going through the Tsunami was terrifying, it is crazy to see how the crew survived. The story of the lighthouse keeper surviving was also insane. I would show this docudrama to both a history class and a science class. It was a very well done docudrama. Good morning, I am going through my documentary topics again and trying to review the gaps in my documentaries. So today, I am going to follow David Adams on a trip to Cambodia. This is called the Lost World of the Khmer Rouge and the run time for this documentary is 50:22.
Cambodia is a place of jungles and ruins. It was the place of the god-kings. Monks still seek peace in these jungles. This land is finally opening up and revealing its beauty. For thirty years, the jungles and the country have been cut off from the modern world and during that time it was a Khmer Rouge stronghold. David Adams penetrates these jungles to meet with former Khmer Rouge militants to enter these last bastions. He visits the final resting place of Pol Pot. Now the purpose of the Khmer Rouge is to protect the jungles, however, as Adams discovers are not as easy to get into as it seems. David kicks off this documentary by traveling with soldiers who are putting up trail cameras to capture photos of rare and endangered animals. After this, he goes to a market that sells rare animal parts. He is with two guides and they wish these guides wish that this trade was shut down. Many of the animals were valuable in traditional Eastern medicine. Sometimes these markets have counterfeit animals. Adams learns about one of the mythical animals of Cambodia. Adams joins up with an expedition to learn more about Cambodia’s endangered animals. Cambodia used to be part of French Indo-China and the architecture is a mixture of South East Asia and European. Adams makes his way to Angkor Wat by boat because the waterways are the most efficient way to travel. He spots fishermen on the water. Then he arrives in Angkor Wat. It was the capital of the ancient Cambodian empire. The temple is visited by tourists; however, Adams takes in the city that surrounded the temple. It was a large city that had a population of one million people. It was one of the largest cities in the Ancient World. Adam views a radar map of the site and these radars show the old roads and buildings. However, Angkor Wat would die and be one of the biggest cities to die. After a trip to Angkor Wat Adams continues to make his way through the Cambodia jungle. In this section, he learns more about Pol Pot. He would eventually grow up to become a killer in a peaceful country. When he became dictator of Cambodia, he would cause chaos. He drained the city population and forced the people to work in the fields. He wanted to create the perfect peasant society in Cambodia. He gave the world the name “killing fields.” As Adams goes into Khmer Rouge territory, he can’t help but feel a sense of dread. Adams continues his way up the mountain. They pass along checkpoints and Adams sees signs of war all over. Adams makes his way to Pol Pot’s headquarters and along the way, they encounter former soldiers of the Khmer Rouge. Eventually, a soldier is invited to come along to help ease their way into Khmer territory. Eventually, Adams stops at the headquarters of Pol Pot. It was where he spent his last days and where he died. Millions of death happened under Pol Pot’s regime. The legacy of Pol Pot looms over Cambodia. After this trip to the grave, Adams meets up with former Khmer Rouge soldiers, who now work with the wildlife conservation society. They were the best hunters and now they work to conserve the jungle wildlife. They set out cameras to learn what animals still remain in the jungle. Adams has to be careful where he walks because there are still mines in the field. Every day someone in Cambodia a landmine explodes and maim someone. To learn more about Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge tune into the rest of this episode to find out more. I forgot that I really enjoy listening to David Adams’ narration. He really cares about his topic and is curious about what he encounters. This was really well done, but I would show this to a geography class and not a history class. Good morning, and this is a list of some of the documentaries that were featured on the blog for March 2024.
Nefertiti: Where is Her Mummy? - YouTube (46:36) Nefertiti was one of Egypt’s most famous queens. She was renowned for her beauty. However, the whereabouts of her mummy remains unknown. There have been potential candidates for the Nefertiti mummy. What can modern research do to shed light on this enduring mystery? Was the mummy of Queen Nefertiti really discovered? Or should Egyptologists continue to search for the mummy? Will the Nefertiti mummy ever be found? *Recommend for research purposes.* The Beautiful Nefertiti: Who Owns Her - YouTube (42:25) The Berlin Museum houses the bust of the famous Queen Nefertiti. It is the museum’s biggest attraction. However, there are questions about who really owns the bust. The Egyptians miss having the bust in their possession. Since 1924, both France and Egypt have been challenging Germany for ownership. The Nefertiti bust was ancient Egypt’s best know discovery, so who really does own the bust? Art historian Benedicte Savoy explores the ownership question. *NOT RECOMMENDED FOR A HISTORY CLASS.* Traces of Cleopatra - YouTube (50:29) A group of scholars comes together to investigate new evidence that is emerging about the life of Cleopatra. This investigation combines new techniques and technology to explore the mystery of Cleopatra. Cleopatra was Egypt’s last ruler before it fell to Rome. Who really was Cleopatra? Where were her origins? How did she come to power? How did she exert her power? Where was she buried? *NOT RECOMMENDED for a history class.* The Lake District - YouTube (42:57) The Lake District is where Beatrix Potter, a children’s author found her inspiration. Our hosts will explore this area as well as tell a tale of Beatrix Potter. She not only was a children’s author she was also a savvy businesswoman who enjoyed living in the Lake District. She would become an outspoken advocate for the Lake District. On this trip as well, Oz Clarke meets a team at the Plant Conservation Center. Jon Culshaw also explores the Snowshill Manor. *Not recommended for a history class, has potential for an English Literature class and Plant and Animal Science class.* 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.* Calamity Jane: The Legend of the West - YouTube (52:42) The west was a vast plain that was inhabited by the First Nations. However, these lands would become invaded when gold was discovered. Thousands of pioneers went out west to make a new life. It was here that Calamity Jane found herself. She was the first legendary woman of the West. She had plays written about her. She was the most famous woman in America and a living legend. A peak in South Dakota was named for her. New York depicted her as the Queen of the Plains. Who was the real woman behind the legend? *Excellent 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.* 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.* Emmeline Pankhurst: Making of a Militant - YouTube (51:20) Emmeline Pankhurst led the suffrage movement in Britain. Under her, an army of women took to the streets of Britain to demand the right to vote. They acted at the time, contrary to what was expected of women at the time. Sally Lindsay an actress takes a look at the life of Emmeline Pankhurst. She takes a rare look at the woman whose personal loves and losses transformed her from a working-class woman into a militant activist. Who was the real Emmeline Pankhurst? *Recommended for a history classroom and for research purposes. Can easily be mined for clips as well.* 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.* 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.* A Tale of Two Sisters: Diana and Jessica Mitford - YouTube (44:25) Jessica and Diana Mitford were two aristocratic young women who were part of the famous Mitford family. There were four other sisters in the family and the sisters were fiercely competitive. Jessica and Diana were separated by only a few years but they had wildly different political views. Jessica would become a communist and Diana was a fascist. Europe was divided at the beginning of the 20th Century and was full of political tension and citizens were forced to decide what political views they wanted to adopt. This is the story of the two sisters and their political beliefs. *Recommended for both a history class and for research.* Stalin's Daughter - YouTube (52:13) Svetlana Alliluyeva was Josef Stalin’s daughter and in the midst of the Cold War, she fled to the United States through India. Her defection was a bombshell and sent shockwaves through the Soviet authorities. While in the United States, she became a media rockstar. Her arrival in New York was a sensation. However, she finds that she still cannot escape her father’s shadow. How did this young woman become the most famous defector? What drove this woman to defect to the United States? *Recommended for both research purposes and for a history classroom.* A Tale of Two Sisters: Jackie - YouTube (44:30) Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill were sisters who had a complicated relationship. One sister would marry a future president and would become known for her impeccable style. She would regularly appear on the front pages of magazines. However, with all this success there was suffering. The other sister was younger and would provide great support for the older sister. Their lives were intertwined. However, beneath the surface, there was a great rivalry. *Recommended for research purposes.* Outlier: The Story of Katherine Johnson - YouTube (54:12) Katherine Johnson was an African American girl-wonder who was a mathematical genius. She loved mathematics and would count the steps going into church. Her genius helped catapult astronauts into space. She was an integral part of NASA and was profiled in the movie “Hidden Figures.” Her computations were important to the first missions to space. Who was this woman? Why did she have such an impact on history? This documentary features an interview with Katherine Johnson. *HIGHLY Recommended for a history and math class.* The Women of Iran Let Their Hair Down - YouTube (51:56) Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-born journalist who lives in New York City. She fights against the compulsory wearing of the headscarf in Iran. She is the most prominent critic of the regime in Iran. She is also under threat because there was an assassination attempt on her life. She has called on women in Iran to film themselves taking off the headscarf. She publishes the videos she receives and has more than seven million followers on social media. This film follows Masih’s story. *Recommended for older high school students.* Good morning, March is winding down and now I am going to look at a documentary on Jackie Kennedy and her sister Lee Radziwill. The run time for this documentary is 44:30 and is called Jackie: A Tale of Two Sisters.
Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill were sisters who had a complicated relationship. One sister would marry a future president and would become known for her impeccable style. She would regularly appear on the front pages of magazines. However, with all this success there was suffering. The other sister was younger and would provide great support for the older sister. Their lives were intertwined. However, beneath the surface, there was a great rivalry. Jackie Bouvier was born in the Upper Class of American Society. Four years later she was joined by her younger Lee. They grew up going to the best schools, vacationing in the Hamptons, and riding horses. One historian likens Jackie’s and Lee’s upbringing to growing up aristocratic in the English Countryside. However, competition between the sisters was fierce and Lee found herself overshadowed by Jackie. Jackie and Lee were incredibly close with their father, and they both gained their sense of style from their father. However, their parents’ marriage was imploding and their mother would sue their father for a divorce. Her mother would eventually remarry and this new marriage was a challenge for the sisters. They were the outsiders to their mother’s new family. It would have been a challenging time for the sisters indeed. Eventually, the sisters had to turn their own thoughts to marriage. They were expected to marry well and to marry a man with real money. Their mother was determined for her daughters to marry well. Lee was considered the prettier of the sister and would marry Michael Canfield. Jackie was taking her time in searching for a husband. Jackie had her views on marriage and she would eventually go into photojournalism in Washington DC. She had a natural curiosity and enjoyed the job. Her family was despairing over whether or not Jackie would marry. Eventually, Jackie would meet John F. Kennedy. Both saw in each other someone they could not be bored with. Jackie was a woman with brains and Joe Kennedy liked her. Eventually, the pair would marry. Their wedding would be the society wedding of the year. Lee was becoming increasingly unhappy with her marriage choice. She and Michael Canfield moved to London and had a full society calendar. Eventually, she would meet with Prince Stanislaw Radziwill, a Polish aristocrat. His old-world charm would sway her and they would eventually marry. Jackie would face her own difficulties with marriage to John. Kennedy was a man who enjoyed the company of women, and Jackie knew what was going on but took the approach that as long as he came back to her and her children she would turn a blind eye. While Lee embarked on a life in London with Prince Radizwill, Jackie helped her husband win the presidency. John F. Kennedy would win the presidency and Jackie’s world would change. She knew her history well, and the challenge of the White House was a daunting challenge. However, Jackie would take on the challenge brilliantly. While Jackie’s star was soring, Lee’s marriage was suffering. Eventually, Prince Stanislaw and Lee would divorce. Things would change for both women when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The assassination sent shockwaves around the world. Lee would fly to Washington to be at Jackie’s side. The grief of the nation fell on her shoulders and she would hold the country together during this time. Jackie struggled to recover from what she witnessed. Lee tried to comfort Jackie the best she could. However, it was Bobby Kennedy that would be the biggest help to Jackie. How would Lee react to these changes? How would Jackie navigate a life without John Kennedy? Tune into the rest of this episode to find out more about Jackie and Lee. This was a fascinating look at the lives of Jackie and Lee Bouvier. The pacing of this documentary was good and oh wow, the historians’ contributions were very well done. Over all this would be a good documentary for research purposes and not to be shown in a history class. |
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The purpose of this blog is to share information on what can be used in a classroom, private school, or home school setting as well as serve as a portfolio of my personal and professional work. The reviews are my opinions and should be treated as such. I just want to provide a tool for teachers to select documentaries for their classrooms. |