2022 - Top 10 Documentary Series

It is the end of 2022 and today I will present a Top Ten list of documentary series that was featured on the blog.  The rules are simple, they had to be featured in the blog or on my database list over the past two years.  Both history-based-reality TV and documentaries will be featured in this Top Ten list.

So will my 2022 Top Ten list remain the same as last year?  Or will there be a new top documentary series on the list?  Follow the rest of this blog to find out!

2022 Top 10 Documentary Series
1. The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1  Episode 2   Episode 3  Episode 4
The Last Journey of the Vikings is a docudrama series about the Viking People.  They traveled widely and shaped European politics.  What is the truth about the Vikings?  In the Eighth Century, the Vikings started appearing along the coasts of Europe.  With their fierce warriors, they gained a reputation as Europe’s terrorizers.  They targeted monasteries because the monks could not defend themselves.  Eventually, the Vikings’ strategy changed.  They mixed with the powerful.  So why did the Vikings become pirates?  How did they spread their influence over Europe?  Tune into this documentary to find out. 

2.  Face of Britain: Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3
Neil Oliver explores the genetic doomsday book geneticists in Britain are creating of Britain to determine where the genetic ancestry of the British comes from.  Do the British people come from Celts, Vikings, Anglo Saxons, or the Normans?  Oliver travels around Britain to talk to the participants of the study.  At the end of each episode, they go over the results with the participants of the study. 

3. A Stitch in Time with Amber Butchart
Amber Butchart explores the history of fashion and how our perceptions of fashion changed.  She looks at six pieces of artwork and has them recreated.  She looks at the clothing of King Charles II to the common hedge cutter.  What was the true story of Marie Antoinette?  What can fashion tell us about history?  What can fashion tell us about the people?  This is an excellent series featuring experimental history.

4. Lost Kingdoms of South America
Dr. Jago Cooper explores the ancient kingdoms of South America, going beyond the Inca people.  He explores Bolivia and Peru to discover these lost kingdoms.  The People of the Clouds are a mystery.  One civilization left behind a spectacular temple and lasted for 500 years.  A third civilization gave birth to the legend of El Dorado the city of gold.  The fourth kingdom managed to eek a living out of the desert.  Go beyond the Inca people and pick a documentary from this series to share with a history class.  

5. Immortal Egypt:  Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4
Joann Fletcher explores the history of Ancient Egypt over four episodes.  She explores the height of Egypt's power, what caused Egypt to decline.  She takes us to Egypt's beginnings and weaves a tale of glory followed by despair.  She shows off grand monuments and the smallest finds.  This is an excellent documentary series to show while students are studying Ancient Egypt. 

6. Meet the Romans with Mary Beard - Episode 1   Episode 2   Episode 3
Mary Beard is back and this time she is introducing the world to the Romans.  She explores the lives of everyday Romans.  Both the living and the dead are explored, from the poorest to the richest.  Beard seeks out the ordinary voices.  They were determined that they would be remembered.  Their tombstones did not just leave behind the birth and dates of the Roman, but their thoughts and feelings.  How did ordinary Romans think?  Tune into this documentary to find out.  

7. Lost Kingdoms of Africa
Gus Casley-Hayford explores lost African Kingdoms.  He explores the kingdom of the Zulu, Berbers, West Africa, Great Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Nubia.  Gus travels around Africa to learn more about these kingdoms.  What was so mysterious about Great Zimbabwe?  Is Ethiopia where the Ark of the Covenant is located?  Where was the kingdom of gold?  This is a fantastic series on African Kingdoms.

8. The Women Who Made History
This is another German-produced documentary series about the women who made history.  There are episodes on Elizabeth I, Queen Louise, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Catherine the Great, and Sophie Scholl.  This series explores the stories of these women and why they made history.  This series covers different eras so a teacher should find something that will fit with their teaching needs.  This Series also has English subtitles.

9. Victorian Bakers - Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3
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. 

10. 1900 Island - Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4  
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?