People seemed interested in the link I gave to the documentary about medieval peasant life, so I'm going to compile a few more in this thread for those who are interested in learning more, or just gathering some material to enhance their characters or roleplays. The subject line of the thread comes from a season of programmes made by the BBC about the Medieval world. I'll probably add to this list as I hunt out more material.
We start with
Inside the Medieval Mind: Power (running time 58 minutes). This one talks about how power was divided and imposed in the Middle Ages. Including the divisions of power between the priesthood, the knights, and the serfs; symbols of power such as castles; and peasant uprisings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM-slEErFtMNext up is
Inside the Medieval Mind: Knowledge (running time 58 minutes). This deals with superstition/the supernatural, religion, and the evolution of Middle Ages science and rational thought.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SUsKuG1w6kInside the Medieval Mind: Belief (running time 58 minutes). Religion, the power of the Church, the supernatural, and religious war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0dVLaT8rsUInside the Medieval Mind: Sex (running time 58 minutes). Sex, sin, love, and marriage in the Middle Ages (content warning if you're of a more puritan frame of mind).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSk4HrjuSCwNext up, we have a more light-hearted take on the Middle Ages, with a documentary series made by Terry Jones (Yes, the Monty Python's Flying Circus Terry Jones), where he talks about the lives of certain classes of Medieval people. Still informative, but much lighter in tone. These are okay if you're looking for a bit of roleplay background material, but you don't feel you can be bothered to sit through the more heavy-weight documentaries above.
Life of the peasant (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3YDN5gTX0Life of the monk (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7kixg7E3PkLife of the damsel (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL5CviNAhnkLife of the minstrel (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LyuIVZk5FMLife of the knight (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhWFQtzM4r0Life of the philosopher (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTf2EzTd1TELife of the outlaw (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9GsccLoLvYLife of the king (29 mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYLXlbE6Ly4Next we have some background for that feasting roleplay you've been planning to write. Ever wanted to know what a medieval king had for dinner?
Clarissa and the King's Cookbook might answer that question! (29 mins).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=803rjwGlS-ULastly for now, we have two programmes from the
Battlefield Britain series - this is for the battle fans and those interested medieval weapons. The first deals with the last great rebellion of the Welsh against English rule, as a 10,000 strong Welsh army invades England. (59 mins).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7k91AQ3UIThe second is about the Battle of Hastings, the twilight of Anglo-Saxon rule in England when their control is broken by the Normans (59 mins).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_rAXH09qRYThat's all for now. If people are interested in these, I'll find more to add to this lot.
