TELEVISION

Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest

Series: Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest
4.7
(66)
sign up
Episodes
36
Rating
TVPG
Year
2010
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

Evidence of Great Britain's legacy to the English-speaking world - indeed, to most of the Western world itself - is all around us, woven intimately into the fabric of almost every aspect of daily life. Professor Paxton consistently delivers a fresh level of understanding about medieval England, its rulers and subjects, and their significance for the world we live in today.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 36

1. From Britannia to Britain

34m

sign up
A discussion of how the geography of Britain has shaped political events over the centuries introduces you to the significance of English history between the 5th-century fall of the Roman Empire and the 1485 advent of the Tudor dynasty.

2. Roman Britain and the Origins of King Arthur

33m

sign up
The collapse of Roman rule, arrival of barbarian raiders and settlers, and resistance to Germanic immigration serve as a backdrop to a tantalizing mystery. Examine the evidence as to whether the unidentified champion who temporarily halted the advance of the barbarians could have been the King Arthur of later legend.

3. The Early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms

32m

sign up
See how the victories of the shadowy figure possibly identified with Arthur offered only temporary stability, with the initiative soon shifting to the Germanic immigrants. Examine what we know about the societies that produced them and how their laws and culture were transformed by contact with Britain's.

4. The Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons

32m

sign up
Follow the parallel stories of the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity and the emergence of England's seven preeminent regional kingdoms. Those kingdoms drew—depending on their location—upon two different sources of Christian influence and custom.

5. Work and Faith in Anglo-Saxon England

31m

sign up
Plunge into the substance of daily life for Anglo-Saxons of all social levels, including illness and mortality, the transition from paganism to Christianity, farming, trade, or even raiding. What is clear is that there is tremendous variation in the economic and religious experience of the population.

6. The Viking Invasions

32m

sign up
Watch as the one- or two-boat raids of the late 8th century grew into vast armies of 50 ships or more by the middle of the 9th. Intent on settling permanently, the invaders' influence in eastern England would be profound, with patterns of landholding, legal institutions, and even language altered forever.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great Coursesdirector
The Great Coursesproducer
Jennifer Paxtonactor

Similar Artists