TED-Ed
TED-Ed: 6 myths about the Middle Ages that everyone believes | Stephanie Honchell Smith
Medieval Europe. Where unbathed, sword-wielding knights ate rotten meat, thought the Earth was flat, defended chastity-belt wearing maidens, and tortured their foes with grisly gadgets. Except... this is more fiction than fact. So, where...
SciShow
Where Did Werewolf Myths Come From
Werewolves might not be real, but the myths about them could have come from real scientific phenomena, like a misunderstanding of certain illnesses.
Crash Course
Human Evolution: Crash Course Big History
In which John Green and Hank Green teach you about how human primates moved out of Africa and turned Earth into a real-life Planet of the Apes. And the apes are people! John and Hank teach you about how humans evolved, and the sort of...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The biggest mistakes in mapmaking history | Kayla Wolf
For thousands of years, people made both functional maps and what are known as cosmographies, illustrating the earth and its position in the cosmos, often including constellations, gods, and mythic locations. These maps were meant to...
Curated Video
Battle of Morgarten, 1315 AD Rise of the Swiss
Battle of Morgarten, 1315 AD Rise of the Swiss
Curated Video
The Walk to Canossa: A Defining Moment in Medieval Europe
This video discusses the dramatic events surrounding King Henry IV's journey to Canossa in 1077 to seek absolution from Pope Gregory VII after being excommunicated. The encounter at Canossa, where Henry humbled himself before the Pope,...
Curated Video
Medieval Knights were Surprisingly Thirsty
So, you wish to learn the ancient art of chivalry? Well you’ve come to the right place. These days chivalry means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but if there’s a special woman in your life? Don’t take the example...
Jabzy
The Victual Brothers: Medieval German Pirates that Terrorized the Northern Europe.
The Victual Brothers: Medieval German Pirates that Terrorized the Northern Europe.
Weird History
What It Was Like to Be a Medieval Knight
When we think of knights during the medieval times, we think of valiant men who chose to defend their honor in feats of jousting, chivalry, and dragon slaying. But that’s not exactly how it was for the actual knights. Today, we’re...
Weird History
Why Do Babies Look Creepy In Medieval Art
Infants in medieval art all have one thing in common: They don't look like babies. Instead, they resemble miniature versions of middle-aged men, sometimes complete with receding hairlines and ripped muscles. Depictions of weird,...
Weird History
Life In The Stocks
Many a curious renaissance fair or historical park visitor has probably wondered: “What was it like to be in the stocks?” A lot of people picture having their head and neck restrained for a few minutes and being pelted by old tomatoes,...
Weird History
What Was It Like To Be A Body Collector During The Black Plague?
Buboes, black spots, and bloody froth: it was all in a day’s work for Black Death body collectors. The plague, which may have killed as many as 200 million people worldwide, changed everything—including body disposal.
Weird History
The Plague That Made People Dance Themselves to Death
Medieval Europe had no shortages of super deadly disease outbreaks that could wipe out a chunk of the population without much effort. But none of them were quite as fun as the bizarre case of Frau Troffea and the dancing plague that had...
Curated Video
The Life of a Medieval Peasants part 4: Entertainment
When they weren't laboring, peasants enjoyed entertaining themselves in a variety of ways. Some activities were more brutal, like animal fights and public executions. But others are similar to what we do for entertainment now, including...
Curated Video
The Life of a Medieval Peasant part 3: Medical Care
Medicine and medical care during the Middle Ages was predictably sparse. Herbs were usually used as a form of medication and medical services were often provided by other peasants. Due to a lack of access to medical services, many...
Curated Video
The Life of a Medieval Peasant part 1: Work and Home Life
Life for peasants in the Middle Ages was focused on work, both inside and outside of the home. This video focuses on the types of work peasants would do, how they spent their earnings, their housing conditions, and the clothing they made...
Curated Video
The Life of a Medieval Peasant part 2: Food and Drink
Peasants in the Middle Ages had a varied diet, mostly consisting of bread, vegetables, and meat, though meat was often saved for special occasions. Not only did wealth, or lack thereof, play a part in what people consumed during this...
Weird History
What Was Medieval Junk Food Like
What was medieval junk food like? If you're picturing knights eating Big Macs and Twinkies, you're not far off from the truth. Just substitute a meat pie for the Big Mac and a funnel cake for the Twinkies, and you'll have a good idea of...
Weird History
The History of Women And Beer
Let's talk some Beer History! For thousands of years, the history of beer was dominated by women. Ancient people worshipped female beer goddesses, female brewsters who filled Viking beer halls, and female saints who performed beer miracles.
Weird History
Hygiene of Medieval Peasants
Although cleanliness in the Middle Ages was primitive compared to what modern people enjoy, it doesn't mean medieval hygiene didn't exist. Despite living in an era long before indoor plumbing, shampoo, and nail salons, people used the...
Weird History
What The Typical Medieval Diet Was Like
If you've ever been to the restaurant Medieval Times or eaten at a Renaissance Faire, then you've been horribly misled about medieval diets. The real story of medieval foods and cooking is actually simultaneously a lot more disgusting...
Crash Course
Cathedrals and Universities: Crash Course History of Science #11
How are so many medieval buildings still standing today? And, how did ancient builders learn such skills? Discover the amazing feats of medieval engineers with part 11 in a 15-installment History of Science series. The narrator describes...
The School of Life
Philosophy - Thomas Aquinas
The patron saint of teachers, Thomas Aquinas, believed in the importance of knowledge and expanding one's mind. A brief analysis of St. Thomas and his accomplishments, views, and contributions to Western civilization lends well to any...
TED-Ed
The Wars That Inspired Game of Thrones
Discover how the power struggle between two noble families in the historical conflicts of the War of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in the hit series Game of Thrones. This animated video dissects shifts in...