[horse neighing] >> THE MEDIEVAL ERA HAS
ALWAYS FIRED MY IMAGINATION.
A WORLD OF LEGEND, KNIGHTS, AND
CASTLES.
A TIME OF JOUSTS AND HEROIC
BATTLES.
BUT IT WAS ALSO A TIME OF
BUILDING, A TIME OF CHANGE,
AND A TIME OF INNOVATION.
MY NAME IS MIKE LOADES,
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THE PAST BY
EXPERIENCING IT.
I'M AN HISTORIAN WHO BELIEVES
THAT WHEN YOU GET YOUR HANDS ON
THE PAST, YOU DISCOVER WHAT A
SURPRISING PLACE IT WAS.
A WORLD WITH FAMILIAR CHALLENGES
BUT VERY DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.
I'M GOING ON A JOURNEY TO EXPLORE THE MEDIEVAL WORLD.
A WORLD THAT SPANNED A THOUSAND
YEARS, FROM THE FALL OF THE
ROMAN EMPIRE TO THE RENAISSANCE.
FLY!
I WANT TO GET AS CLOSE AS
POSSIBLE TO THE EVERYDAY LIVES
OF ORDINARY PEOPLE...
AND TO TAKE PART IN THE PURSUITS OF THE NOBILITY.
[horn blaring]
I'M GOING TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT
WAS LIKE TO LIVE IN THIS
FASCINATING PERIOD OF OUR
HISTORY.
[sword clanking]
SOME OF IT WILL BE EVERYDAY
DETAILS.
SOME OF IT WILL BE SPECTACULAR.
IT WILL ALL BE 100% AUTHENTIC.
CLEAR!
I'M GOING MEDIEVAL. I'M FOCUSING ON THE 1200s AND
1300s, WHICH FOR ME IS THE HIGH
POINT OF THE PERIOD,
AND I'M STARTING WITH A CLASSIC
IMAGE: THE CASTLE.
EARLY CASTLES WERE WEAPONS OF
INTIMIDATION AND ATTACK.
THEY WEREN'T JUST ABOUT DEFENSE,
AND THEY WEREN'T MADE OF STONE.
THE FIRST CASTLES WERE LIKE
THIS.
ON HIGH MOUNDS WITH WOODEN
TOWERS, SURROUNDED BY A WOODEN
PALISADE FENCE.
IN FACT, THEY WERE VERY LIKE THE
AMERICAN FORTS OF THE 1800s.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE.
THEY WERE CAVALRY FORTS.
AND THEY CAME INTO BEING ABOUT
A THOUSAND YEARS AGO WITH A NEW
TYPE OF WARRIOR: THE KNIGHT.
A HORSE-BORNE WARRIOR WHO RODE A
PROUD, SPIRITED WARHORSE.
AND WARHORSES NEED FEED.
THEY NEEDED SHELTER.
THEY NEEDED VETERINARY CARE.
THEY NEEDED A BASE.
AND THESE BASES WERE AIRCRAFT
CARRIERS FOR HORSES.
YOU DEPLOY YOUR FLEET OF WOODEN
CASTLES DEEP INTO ENEMY
TERRITORY AS YOU PUSHED EVER
FORWARD INTO LANDS OF CONQUEST.
AND FROM HERE, I CAN CONTROL THE
LAND FOR 10, 15 MILES--
THE LAND THAT I CAN SEND A
PATROL OUT AND GET BACK BEFORE
NIGHTFALL.
[clicks tongue]
BUT WHO WERE THESE KNIGHTS? THE POPULAR, ROMANTIC IMAGE IS
OF THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR,
WHO SPENDS HIS TIME JOUSTING AND
WOOING LADIES.
THERE IS SOME TRUTH IN THAT,
BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, A KNIGHT
WAS A SOLDIER.
THE CULT OF KNIGHTHOOD WAS
CENTERED AND FOUNDED ON THE
ELITE HORSE-BORNE WARRIOR.
FIRST WEAPON OF ATTACK WAS THE
LANCE.
KNIGHTS WERE SHOCK TROOPS,
SMASHING THEIR WAY TO VICTORY
WITH THE IMPACT CHARGE.
HA!
BUT KNIGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN
ENGLAND, FOUGHT AS OFTEN ON FOOT
AS THEY DID ON HORSE.
[thrilling music] ♪ ♪
A GROUP OF MY FRIENDS, ALL EXPERTS IN A RANGE OF HISTORICAL
SKILLS, ARE GOING MEDIEVAL WITH
ME TO HELP ME UNCOVER THE
REALITY OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD.
KNIGHTS WERE THE MILITARY ELITE.
AND THAT DIDN'T CHANGE WHETHER
THEY FOUGHT MOUNTED OR ON FOOT.
ABOVE ALL ELSE, THE WERE CRACK
TROOPS, AND THAT MEANT CONSTANT,
HARD TRAINING.
THE TRAINING WAS EXHAUSTING.
THE FRENCH KNIGHT BUSICO SAID,
"YOU SHOULD RUN AT LEAST A MILE
A DAY IN YOUR HEAVY MAIL SHIRT.
KNIGHTS TRAINED EVERY DAY TO
ACCUSTOM THEMSELVES TO THE GRUNT
AND SWEAT OF WEARING ARMOR.
[wooden swords knocking]
THIS IS THE PELL. THIS STOUT WOODEN POST IS THE
MEDIEVAL EQUIVALENT OF THE
BOXER'S PUNCH BAG.
THEY'RE WORKING THE PELL WITH
WOODEN SWORDS.
MANY OF THE TEXTS TELL US THAT
THE WOODEN SWORDS WOULD BE
DOUBLE THE WEIGHT OF THE STEEL
SWORD.
SO THIS IS NOT AN EASY OPTION.
THIS IS TO BUILD UP YOUR
STRENGTH AND YOUR STAMINA.
IN BATTLE, FIGHTING WAS HARD, VICIOUS, AND BRUTAL, AND
KNIGHTS, TOUGH FIGHTING MEN,
FOUGHT WITH EVERY MEANS AT THEIR
DISPOSAL.
THEY'RE USING THEIR SHIELDS TO
FIGHT WITH, FOR BODY CHECKS.
THEY CAN USE THEM WITH THE EDGE
OF THE SHIELD.
BUT, OF COURSE, THE SHIELD ON
THE BATTLEFIELD IS REALLY THERE
TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST ARCHERS.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE REALLY
CARRYING THIS.
BUT IN A TIGHT PRESS OF MEN,
IT ALSO BECOMES A WEAPON.
[swords clanking]
KNIGHTS TRAINED HARD TO MASTER A RANGE OF ALL-IN FIGHTING
TECHNIQUES.
WRESTLING GRIPS AND HOLDS WERE
AN ESSENTIAL PART OF MEDIEVAL
SWORD FIGHTING.
[grunting]
GRIPPING THE BLADE TO USE THE
SWORD AT HALF SWORD.
FROM HERE, I CAN PULL HIS SWORD
OUT OF THE WAY, I CAN GO FOR HIS
FACE, SMASHING HIS TEETH OUT,
OR I COULD TRIP HIM WITH THE
CROSSGUARD.
[grunting]
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A BATTLE
IS, THE CRUSH OF MEN FROM EITHER
SIDE SQUEEZES YOU IN.
THEN WE'RE PUSHING THEM BACK.
THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER AND
CLOSER, AND EVENTUALLY THEY'RE
IN A TIGHT MELEE, AND FINALLY
THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FALL
TO GRIPS AND GRAPPLES.
WRESTLING TECHNIQUES WERE OF
PARTICULAR USE WHEN KNIGHT CAME
UP AGAINST KNIGHT ON THE
BATTLEFIELD.
THEY HAD THEIR OWN CODE OF
HONOR: CHIVALRY.
AND MY SPARRING PARTNER,
DR. TOBIAS CAPWELL, IS AN EXPERT
IN THE RULES.
>> KNIGHTS ARE FIGHTING OTHER
KNIGHTS; OTHER EQUALS OF THE
SAME SOCIAL CLASS,
AND WITHIN THE BROTHERHOOD OF
CHIVALRY, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY
WANT TO HAVE TO KILL YOUR SOCIAL
EQUALS ALL THE TIME.
YOU HAVE THE PROCESS OF
RANSOMING.
YOU CAN FORCE THEM TO YIELD TO
YOU, THEY BECOME YOUR PRISONER,
AND THEN YOU CAN SELL THEM BACK
TO THEIR FAMILY FOR AN
EXTRAORDINARY PROFIT, BUT
THEY'RE NOT GONNA YIELD EASILY.
>> YOU'VE GOT TO DEFEAT THEM
BUT NOT KILL THEM.
OH, YEAH, I SEE. >> NOW I'VE GOT YOU IN AN
ARM-BREAKING POSITION.
>> HE COULD BREAK MY
ARM.
I CAN FEEL THAT HE CAN BREAK MY
ARM.
>> I CAN MAKE IT WORSE AND WORSE
UNTIL--
>> I YIELD.
AND THEN I GIVE YOU MY WORD.
I YIELD, I AM NOW YOUR PRISONER.
YOU CAN LET ME UP.
>> FINE.
>> [laughs]
CHIVALRY WORKS WITH PEOPLE OF
THE SAME CLASS.
OF COURSE, IF HE DOESN'T
PERCEIVE I AM HIS SAME SOCIAL
CLASS, THEN CHIVALRY DOESN'T
WORK AND HE DROPS ME TO THE
DIRT.
KNIGHTS WERE ICONS OF THE
MEDIEVAL AGE, BUT AN EQUALLY
POWERFUL IMAGE WAS THE CASTLE.
CASTLES CONJURE UP BOTH THE
ROMANCE AND DREAD OF THE PERIOD.
[speaking French] [clicks tongue]
BUT I'M NOT JUST GOING TO LOOK
ROUND AN OLD CASTLE.
I'M GOING MEDIEVAL TO HELP BUILD
A NEW ONE.
WHOA. THIS IS GUEDELON IN FRANCE.
A SMALL TEAM OF EXPERTS ARE
15 YEARS INTO A UNIQUE PROJECT.
THEY'RE BUILDING A FULL-SIZED
MEDIEVAL CASTLE FROM THE GROUND
UP.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE IN THE
WORLD LIKE IT.
THESE CRAFTSMEN USE ONLY
AUTHENTIC MATERIALS AND MEDIEVAL
BUILDING TECHNIQUES.
THERE'S NO ELECTRICITY, NO POWER
TOOLS, NO DUMP TRUCKS.
EVERYTHING IS DONE BY HAND,
EXACTLY AS MEDIEVAL BUILDERS
WOULD HAVE DONE IT.
[both speaking French] BECAUSE ALL CASTLES START
HERE, THEY START WITH THE STONE.
THEY START IN THE QUARRY.
EVEN QUARRYING THE STONE USES
NOTHING BUT TRADITIONAL
TECHNIQUES AND HARD LABOR.
ONCE THE STONE WAS QUARRIED, IT WAS SHAPED BY STONEMASONS.
THE CHIEF MASON WAS THE MOST
IMPORTANT PERSON ON ANY
CASTLE-BUILDING PROJECT.
HE WAS THE ARCHITECT, BUILDER,
DESIGNER, CRAFTSMAN, AND
ENGINEER ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.
BELOW THE MASON WAS AN ARMY OF
TRADESMEN.
MAYBE UP TO 200 MEN ON A CASTLE
THIS SIZE, MAKING EVERYTHING,
FROM THE WOODEN SCAFFOLDING
POLES TO CLAY ROOF TILES AND
MORTAR ALL FROM SCRATCH.
HERE THEY'RE MAKING THE MORTAR;
THE STUFF THAT BINDS ALL THE
STONES TOGETHER.
A MIX OF EARTH AND SAND,
LIME AND WATER.
[speaking French]
CASTLES WERE AT THE
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYONE PASSED THROUGH THESE
GATES, FROM PEASANTS TO PRINCES.
IT'S TAKING 45,000 TONS OF STONE
TO BUILD THIS CASTLE, AND IT ALL
HAS TO BE LIFTED USING NOTHING
BUT MUSCLE POWER.
SO DO THEY GET THE STONE TO THE
TOP?
THE ANSWER IS A REMARKABLY
ADVANCED CRANE THAT CAN LIFT AS
MUCH AS MANY MODERN CONSTRUCTION
CRANES.
THIS IS THE MOST INGENIOUS MECHANISM.
THIS DOUBLE-DRUM TREADWHEEL
ACTUALLY HAS THE CAPACITY TO
LIFT 2/3 OF A TON.
THERE'S TWO OF US WORKING THESE
WHEELS, WALKING AWAY LIKE
HAMSTERS.
IT'S NO DIFFERENT TO WALKING ON
THE TREADMILL AT THE GYMNASIUM.
YOU CAN SEE THE HUGE PAYLOAD OF
ROCK THAT WE'RE LIFTING UP.
NOW THE WHOLE THING IS SWINGING ROUND.
THIS PALLET OF STONE IS BEING
SWUNG INTO POSITION, AND WE'RE
NOW LIFTING IT UP TO THE MASONS
ON THE UPPER LEVEL.
GUEDELON IS BASED ON AN
800-YEAR-OLD FRENCH CASTLE
DESIGN.
WHEN IT'S FINISHED, IT WILL HAVE
SIX TOWERS, A GREAT HALL, AND
HIGH WALLS, ENCLOSING MORE THAN
AN ACRE OF LAND.
ALL SURROUNDED BY A HUGE
DRY MOAT.
THIS IS THE TOP OF THE LORD'S
TOWER, LAYING THIS MORTAR TO PUT
IN THE NEXT STONE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS STONE,
YOU SEE THE DETAIL AND ATTENTION
TO THIS CONSTRUCTION.
THERE ARE ALL THESE MASON MARKS
ON HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S AN ARROW,
WHICH IS TELLING US THAT THIS IS
THE WAY IT SHOULD FACE.
THAT'S THE NAME OF THE MAN WHO
MADE IT, THE MAN WHO CUT THIS
STONE.
AND THIS IS THE MEASUREMENT OF
IT.
IN ROMAN NUMERALS IS THE FIGURE
EIGHT, TELLING ME THAT IT'S
EIGHT INCHES DEEP.
I THINK I'M GONNA NEED YOUR
HELP.
[speaking French]
SO WE TIP IT UP LIKE THAT.
OKAY.
THERE WE GO.
AND THAT IS NOW HANGING TRUE,
AND THAT STONE IS PERFECT.
AND I HAVE BUILT A LITTLE, TINY
BIT OF GUEDELON CASTLE.
THIS WAS PRECISE ENGINEERING,
CREATING BUILDINGS THAT WOULD
LAST FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF YEARS.
CASTLES REMAIN A MAJESTIC SIGHT
IN THE EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE TODAY.
>> I'M MIKE LOADES,
AND I'M GOING MEDIEVAL TO SHOW
YOU WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE 800 YEARS
AGO.
IT'S A MEDIEVAL JOURNEY THAT'S
FULL OF SURPRISES.
WITH FEW DECENT ROADS, BY FAR THE BEST WAY TO TRANSPORT HEAVY
GOODS WAS BY SHIP.
THE SEAS OF EUROPE WERE FULL OF
THESE TRADING VESSELS.
CARGO SHIPS LIKE THIS, WHICH ARE
KNOWN AS COGS, WERE THE
WORKHORSES OF THE SEA.
THEY'RE A SINGLE-MASTED VESSEL,
WITH VERY HEAVY SAILS, AND VERY
BROAD, FLAT-BOTTOM BOATS.
THIS MEANT THEY COULD CARRY A
GREAT DEAL OF CARGO.
THESE DECKS COULD BE FULL OF
TIMBERS FROM SCANDINAVIA,
FURS FROM THE BALTIC, OR EVEN
JUST BRINGING CATTLE AND
LIVESTOCK FROM ONE END OF THE
COUNTRY TO THE OTHER.
NOW THE SAIL HAS PICKED UP OUR WIND, AND WE'RE MOVING ALONG AT
REALLY QUITE A CLIP.
THESE SHIPS WERE SO POPULAR THAT
BY 1300, THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK
ALONE HAD A FLEET OF OVER 1,000
OF THEM.
THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE
COG IS THAT THE STEERING RUDDER,
THE HELM, IS CENTRALLY MOUNTED
AT THE BACK.
ON EARLIER SHIPS, IT WAS ON ONE
SIDE, WHERE IT WAS CALLED THE
STEERBOARD, THE STEERING BOARD.
OF COURSE THAT'S WHERE WE GET
THE WORD STARBOARD.
OF COURSE IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR
STEERING MECHANISM, YOUR
STARBOARD, ON ONE SIDE, YOU
CAN'T GO INTO PORT ON THAT SIDE,
SO YOU WENT INTO PORT ON THE
OTHER SIDE, ON THE PORTSIDE.
THE SHALLOW-DRAFTED DESIGN MEANT
THAT YOU COULD DOCK THESE SHIPS
IN ANY PORT THROUGHOUT EUROPE.
SO ANY LITTLE COASTAL TOWN COULD
TAKE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AND BE A GATEWAY TO THE WIDER
WORLD.
>> [grunts]
>> THIS WONDERFUL PLACE
IS THE MEDIEVAL CENTER IN
DENMARK.
IT'S AN AUTHENTIC REPLICA OF THE
SORT OF LITTLE PORT TOWN THAT
YOU WOULD FIND ALL OVER EUROPE.
THIS PLACE IS A LIVING HISTORY
MUSEUM, WHERE EVERYONE GOES AS
MEDIEVAL AS POSSIBLE.
[grunting]
AND YOU SEE THERE'S GOODS FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE.
FURS FROM THE BALTIC.
THERE'S WONDERFUL WOODEN GOODS,
POTTERY GOODS.
CLOTHING.
OKAY, I'M HANDSOME IN THIS?
YEAH, VERY HANDSOME.
YEAH, IT'S A GOOD LOOK FOR ME?
>> [speaking Danish]
>> I HAVEN'T A CLUE WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING.
I'M SURE THEY THINK I LOOK
LOVELY.
BUT THE POINT IS THEY'RE
SPEAKING DANISH, SO I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THEM.
BUT THAT WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM
FOR THE MEDIEVAL TRAVELER.
NOT JUST TRAVELING
INTERNATIONALLY, BUT IN HIS OWN
COUNTRY.
>> [speaking Danish]
>> REGIONAL DIALECTS
WERE ALMOST LIKE DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES.
SO THAT THE TRAVELER FROM YORK
WOULD FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
MAKE HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD IN
LONDON.
THE MAN FROM MARSEILLES WOULD BE
INCOMPREHENSIBLE IN PARIS.
ANOTHER PROBLEM IN THE
MARKETPLACE WAS MAKING SURE YOU
DIDN'T GET CHEATED.
TRADERS WHO TRIED TO FLEECE THE
PUBLIC EITHER BY INFLATING
PRICES OR SELLING SHORT MEASURES
OR PASSING OFF CHEAP IMITATIONS
WERE PUBLICLY SHAMED BY BEING
PLACED IN THE PILLORY.
THERE'S AN ACCOUNT OF ONE ROBERT
PORTER IN 1387.
HE WAS A BAKER, AND HE HAD PUT
IRON WEIGHTS INTO THE LOAVES OF
BREAD HE WAS SELLING TO MAKE
THEM WEIGH MORE.
HE WAS PUT IN THE PILLORY, AND
THE IRON WEIGHT WAS HUNG AROUND
HIS NECK AND THE LOAF WAS HUNG
AROUND HIS NECK, SO THERE COULD
BE NO MISTAKE ABOUT WHAT HE'D
DONE.
AS IF THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH,
YOU HAD TO ENDURE THE ABUSE OF
YOUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL.
[shouting angrily]
>> THEY THROW ROTTEN VEGETABLES,
STINKING FISH, ROTTEN EGGS,
ANIMAL DUNG, ANYTHING THEY COULD
FIND, AND HE WAS THERE FOR
SEVERAL HOURS.
AND IN A SMALL COMMUNITY, THIS
PUBLIC SHAMING HAD A GREAT
EFFECT.
THIS WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF BEING
ON THE FRONT PAGE OF A TABLOID
NEWSPAPER.
PILLORY WASN'T THE ONLY
PUNISHMENT.
THIEVES COULD BE BRANDED ON THE
FACE OR THE HANDS SO THE WORLD
COULD SEE THEIR CRIMES FOREVER.
[water splashing]
THE IDEA THAT MEDIEVAL EUROPE
WAS DULL AND GRAY IS QUITE
WRONG.
IN FACT, IT WAS VIBRANT WITH
DAZZLING COLOR.
AND IN ORDER TO PUT THAT COLOR
IN THEIR CLOTHES, THEY USED A
SURPRISING INGREDIENT.
>> WHAT WE WILL BE USING IS, IN
FACT, STALE URINE PRODUCED BY A
MAN.
AND IT'S GOT TO BE A MAN,
AND IT'S GOT TO BE STALE.
>> SO HOW OLD IS THIS
URINE?
>> THIS IS A MONTH.
>> JULIA CLARK IS AN
EXPERT ON MEDIEVAL DYES.
WOOL AND CLOTH WERE DYED WITH
VEGETABLE DYES, AND FOR SOME
COLORS, URINE WAS A KEY PART OF
THE PROCESS.
>> IN IT GOES.
>> WE'RE NOW ADDING THE
STALE URINE OF A MAN INTO THE
MIX.
IN LONDON IN THE 1300s, THERE
WERE BUCKETS ON STREET CORNERS
FOR MEN TO DEPOSIT THEIR URINE,
WHICH WAS THEN COLLECTED AND
TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DYE WORKS.
IT'S THE AMMONIA IN STALE URINE
THAT FIXES THE DYE.
BUT MODERN SCIENCE HASN'T
FIGURED OUT IF IT REALLY HAD TO
BE A MAN'S.
THE MEDIEVAL WORLD WAS A
HANDMADE WORLD.
EVERYDAY NEEDS WERE
LABOR-INTENSIVE, AND EVERYDAY
GOODS WERE MADE NOT IN
MASS PRODUCTION FACTORIES,
BUT BY HOME WORKERS WITH ARTISAN
SKILLS.
EVEN THE BASIC TASK OF LIGHTING A FIRE WAS A REAL ART.
[fire crackling]
WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT MEDIEVAL LIFE
STOPPED, BUT THAT WOULD BE TO
UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF
FIRELIGHT, CANDLES, DRINK,
AND GOOD COMPANY.
THIS IS A TAVERN.
IT'S NOT ESPECIALLY WELCOMING TO
OUT-OF-TOWNERS, NOT WELCOMING TO
STRANGERS.
FOR THAT, I WOULD NEED TO GO TO
AN INN.
THAT'S WHERE A TRAVELER WOULD
FIND FOOD AND LODGING.
A TAVERN IS FOR THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
HERE EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY
ELSE.
THIS IS THEIR LOCAL MEETING
PLACE.
I'M AN OUT-OF-TOWNER TO THEM,
SO I'M GONNA SIT HERE ON MY OWN.
TAVERNS WERE SO POPULAR THAT IN THE 1300s, LONDON HAD THREE
TIMES AS MANY TAVERNS AS IT DID
CHURCHES.
THIS IS QUITE A RESPECTABLE
ESTABLISHMENT.
UH, HAVING SAID THAT, IT IS
WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO SEEK
PROSTITUTES, AND YOU CAN TELL
THEM BECAUSE THEY WEAR YELLOW
HOODS, A VERY DISTINCTIVE
TRADEMARK.
LIGHT AND HEAT IS EXPENSIVE IN
THE MIDDLE AGES, AND A TAVERN
GIVES FREE LIGHT AND FREE HEAT
FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER.
THIS WAS THE CENTER OF THE
COMMUNITY.
CHEERS.
[all shouting indistinctly]
GETTING FROM PLACE TO PLACE ON LAND WAS SIMPLE.
YOU EITHER TRAVELED ON FOOT
OR USED HORSES.
AND IF ON HORSEBACK, YOU USED
A SPECIAL TYPE OF HORSE.
THESE ARE MEDIEVAL TRAVELLING
HORSES.
IN THE MIDDLE AGES, PEOPLE USED
DIFFERENT HORSES FOR DIFFERENT
PURPOSES.
THESE ARE NOT WARHORSES.
THEY ARE FOR TRAVEL.
AND THEY'RE VERY DISTINCTIVE FOR
THIS TRAVELING GAIT.
IT'S CALLED THE AMBLE.
MODERN HORSES HAVE FOUR GAITS.
THEY CAN WALK, TROT, CANTER,
AND GALLOP.
BUT THESE HORSES HAVE A UNIQUE
FIFTH GAIT.
THIS IS THE AMBLE, AND IT'S A
VERY FAST WALK.
I'M GOING MEDIEVAL ON THESE
HORSES WITH TOBY CAPWELL AND
GORDON SUMMERS, BOTH EXPERT
RIDERS.
IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE, ISN'T IT,
TOBY?
>> IT IS.
IT'S VERY FLAT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M NOT HARDLY
GOING UP AND DOWN AT ALL.
AND IT'S A GAIT THAT'S VERY
COMFORTABLE, AND YOU COULD GO
ALL DAY LIKE THIS REALLY.
>> I MEAN, GORDON, THIS
IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON ONE OF
THESE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> THESE ARE FUN.
IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANYTHING.
BUT TOBY'S RIGHT.
I COULD RIDE ALL DAY AND THEN
ALL NIGHT.
>> MEDIEVAL TRACKS WERE
THE HIGHWAYS OF THEIR DAY,
AND TRAVELERS ENCOUNTERED ALL
SORTS OF FOLK ON THEIR JOURNEY.
A COMMON SIGHT NEAR TOWNS AND CITIES WAS THE PACKMAN, LEADING
A PACK HORSE LADEN WITH
FIREWOOD.
THE ONLY SOURCE OF FUEL FOR
DOMESTIC HEAT WAS FIREWOOD.
AND THESE PACKMEN WOULD BRING
THEIR PACK HORSES INTO THE TOWNS
AND INTO THE CITIES.
THEY WERE THE FUEL TRUCKS OF THE
DAY.
IN LONDON AROUND 1300, THERE WAS
A POPULATION OF ABOUT 80,000.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF
FIREWOOD THEY NEEDED NOT JUST
FOR DOMESTIC HEAT, BUT TO FIRE
THE POTTERY KILNS, TO FIRE THE
BREAD OVENS, AND TO FIRE THE
BLACKSMITH'S FORGES.
CONVOYS OF PACKMEN WERE THE
LIFELINE TO THE CITIES.
WHOEVER HE MET ON THE ROAD, THE MEDIEVAL TRAVELER HAD TO
REACH HIS DESTINATION BEFORE
NIGHTFALL.
>> THE MEDIEVAL FORESTS OF THIS
PERIOD ARE TEEMING WITH BANDITS.
DESERTERS FROM THE ARMY, MEN ON
THE RUN FROM THE LAW AND FROM
THEIR LORD HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN
THE FOREST AND ARE LIVING
DESPERATE MEN.
AND THEY NEED AN INCOME, AND WE
MAKE VERY EASY PICKINGS IF WE'RE
NOT--IF WE'RE NOT HEAVILY ARMED.
>> THE THREAT OF ATTACK IN THE MIDDLE AGES WAS REAL,
AND PEOPLE ARMED THEMSELVES AS A
MATTER OF COURSE.
>> I'VE BEEN GOING MEDIEVAL TO EXPLORE THE REALITY
OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
IT WAS AN AGE OF EXTRAORDINARY
INGENUITY AND SURPRISES.
THE STALE URINE OF A MAN.
ONE MYTH IS THAT KNIGHTS WERE LUMBERING HEAVYWEIGHTS.
THE TRUTH IS THE COMPLETE
OPPOSITE.
THIS HIGHLY MOBILE WARRIOR WAS
THE PRODUCT OF AN ARMS RACE THAT
BEGAN HUNDREDS OF YEARS EARLIER
WITH AN EVEN MORE FLEXIBLE FORM
OF ARMOR.
IT WAS CALLED MAIL AND WAS A
BODY COVERING MADE OF TIGHTLY
INTERLOCKED IRON RINGS.
BUT MAIL WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO
BE WORN ON ITS OWN.
IT WAS ALWAYS PART OF A LAYERED
SYSTEM OF PROTECTION.
MAIL ARMOR WAS DESIGNED TO
PROTECT A WARRIOR FROM
CLOSE-RANGE ATTACK BY SWORD AND
SPEAR, BUT IT ALSO HAD TO DEFEND
AGAINST THE LONG-RANGE WEAPON OF
THE DAY...
>> DRAW!
>> THE WAR BOW.
>> LOOSE!
LOOSE.
>> THERE WAS NOTHING NEW
ABOUT ARCHERY IN BATTLE, BUT
WHAT THE MAKERS OF MAIL ARMOR
WERE UP AGAINST WAS THE SHEER
POWER OF THE WAR BOW.
THIS IS THE ENGLISH WAR BOW
SOCIETY.
THESE ARE PHENOMENALLY POWERFUL
BOWS.
SO HOW EFFECTIVE WERE THESE BOWS
ON THE BATTLEFIELD?
AT THE BATTLE OF CRECY IN 1346,
THE ENGLISH UNDER KING
EDWARD III FOUGHT A FRENCH ARMY
THAT OUTNUMBERED THEM BY AROUND
5 TO 1.
DESPITE OVERWHELMING ODDS,
THE ENGLISH FORCES WON THE DAY.
THE KEY TO EDWARD'S VICTORY
WAS ARCHERS.
HE TOOK 7,000 ARCHERS, NEARLY
HALF HIS ARMY, TO THE BATTLE.
NOW, IF WE COULD CONSERVATIVELY
THINK THEY COULD SHOOT PROBABLY
10 OR 12 ARROWS A MINUTE, THAT
MEANS IN JUST QUARTER OF AN
HOUR, THEY'VE SHOT OVER
A MILLION ARROWS.
AND THIS IS A BATTLE THAT WENT
ON FOR HOURS AND HOURS.
THAT WOULD EXHAUST ARROW STOCKS
VERY, VERY QUICKLY,
AND ARROWS ARE EXTREMELY
SOPHISTICATED AND EXPENSIVE
AMMUNITION.
SO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO USE
THEM?
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IN
BATTLE, MEDIEVAL ARCHERS SHOT AT
LONG RANGE, MAYBE EVEN UP TO
300 YARDS.
I THINK THAT'S UNLIKELY.K THEY R
RANGE, PROBABLY AT 30 OR 40
YARDS FOR MAXIMUM THUMP.
BUT COULD THAT IMPACT DEFEAT THE
ENEMY'S ARMOR?
THE WHOLE POINT OF ARMOR IS THAT IT IS DEFENSE AGAINST THE
WEAPONS OF THE DAY.
IF IT'S NOT, THERE'S NO POINT IN
THE EXPENSE OR THE TROUBLE OF
WEARING IT.
BUT IF THE LONGBOW IS SUCH A
SUPERB WEAPON THAT IT CAN
PENETRATE ARMOR EASILY, WHY
ISN'T EVERYBODY AT CRECY DEAD
WITHIN MINUTES?
OF COURSE SOME PEOPLE WERE
KILLED BY ARROWS.
SOME ARMOR WAS OF INFERIOR
QUALITY.
EVERYBODY DIDN'T HAVE
FULL ARMOR.
SOME RASH YOUNG MAN WOULD LIFT A
VISOR, BUT THE ARROWS GENERALLY
WERE REPELLED BY THE ARMOR.
SO WHAT IS THE MILITARY
EFFECTIVENESS OF MASSED ARCHERY?
IT'S IN THE BLUNT TRAUMA.
IT'S IN THE THUMP AFTER THUMP
AFTER THUMP THAT PEOPLE ARE
RECEIVING FROM THESE HEAVY BOWS.
SO I WANT TO SET UP A TEST TO
MEASURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH IMPACT
THEY'RE RECEIVING.
I'M BEING HELPED IN THE TEST BY
DR. MATTHEW PAIN.
HE'S A SPECIALIST IN CONTACT
SPORT INJURIES.
SO, MATT, THIS IS BOXING BOB.
>> YES.
>> WHO YOU USE FOR
TESTING THE POWER OF BOXER'S
PUNCHES.
>> BEEN MAINLY CALIBRATED FOR
BOXING, PUNCHING, KICKING WITH
MARTIAL ARTS PEOPLE.
>> SO WE WILL BE ABLE
TO MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE
THOSE ARROWS ARE HAVING ON THE
BODY WITHIN?
>> YEAH, THE SENSORS HERE WILL
MEASURE FORCE ANYWHERE OVER
THAT AREA, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA
TAKE FURTHER MEASUREMENTS AND
CALCULATIONS FROM THAT.
>> SO THE FIRST THING WE
NEED TO DO IS PUT ON THE TEXTILE
ARMOR.
THE TEXTILE ARMOR THAT SOLDIERS
WORE UNDER THEIR MAIL IS
DESIGNED TO ABSORB AND SPREAD
THE FORCE OF A BLOW.
IT CONSISTS OF 25 LAYERS OF
LINEN SEWN TOGETHER AND QUILTED
FOR GREATER DENSITY.
SO WE'RE PUTTING THAT OVER THE
PRESSURE PAD, AND THEN WE'LL PUT
THIS RIVETED MAIL SHIRT OVER THE
TOP.
HE'S GOT BIG SHOULDERS, DOESN'T HE?
FOR THE TEST, BOTH ARCHERS ARE
USING WAR BOWS OF 140 POUNDS
DRAW WEIGHT AT EXTREMELY CLOSE
RANGE.
THERE WE GO.
THE SENSORS ON THE DUMMY WILL
RECORD THE FORCE OF THE ARROWS
AND RELAY THE DATA TO A
COMPUTER.
OKAY, MARK, JOE.
LOOSE.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
GOOD SHOT. WE GET A READING THERE?
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS NOT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON ARCHERY PRACTICE.
THEY'RE FIGHTING WITH THESE
BOWS.
115 POUNDS.
OH, LOOK AT THAT SPIKE RIGHT UP THERE.
>> 300 POUNDS.
>> 300 POUNDS, THAT LAST
ARROW.
THESE VERY, VERY, POWERFUL BOWS
AT THIS EXTREME SHORT RANGE,
JUST 12 YARDS, ARE PUNCHING
THROUGH THE MAIL.
THE MAIL IS, HOWEVER, TAKING
SOME OF THE ENERGY OUT OF THEM
AND SLOWING THEM, BUT THAT--
IF YOU WERE JUST WEARING A MAIL
SHIRT, THIS WOULD BE DEEP
IN YOU, AND YOU WOULD BE DEAD.
HOWEVER, YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT'S
HITTING THE TEXTILE ARMOR
UNDERNEATH.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY NOT EVEN
COMING THROUGH AT ALL THERE OR
THERE.
SO WHILE SOME ARROWS PIERCED THE
MAIL, NONE WENT RIGHT THROUGH
THE COMBINATION OF MAIL
AND THICK TEXTILE ARMOR.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FORCE OF THE
IMPACT?
SO NOW, WE'VE GOT A READING HERE
OF 300 POUNDS.
SO WHAT'S THAT THE EQUIVALENT
TO?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE IMPULSE,
THE STOPPING POWER THAT'S
HAPPENED, YOU'VE GOT A VALUE OF
ABOUT TEN NEWTON SECONDS, WHICH
IS ACTUALLY ABOUT THE MID-RANGE
FOR A .44 MAGNUM BULLET.
THERE'S MORE MORE ENERGY IN
A GUN, BUT THERE'S NOT AS
MUCH...
>> SO WHAT DAMAGE IS
THAT DOING TO THE--SUPPOSE IT'S
ON THE SOFT TISSUE WHERE I'VE
GOT ORGANS INSIDE HERE.
>> NOW, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR
IT TO DO QUITE A LOT OF DAMAGE.
NOW, THE ARROW WON'T PUNCTURE
THE ARMOR, BUT THE ARMOR'S
WORKING BY DEFLECTING AND
REBOUNDING.
IF THAT'S GOING IN THAT FAR WITH
ENERGY, THEN IT'S GOING TO CAUSE
DAMAGE THAT DEEP INSIDE THE
BODY.
>> THE TESTS SUGGEST
THAT REPEATED HITS FROM MASSED
WAR BOWS WOULD DELIVER A
DEBILITATING ONSLAUGHT OF
HEAVYWEIGHT BLOWS.
BLOWS THAT WOULD SOFTEN UP AND
WEAKEN AN ENEMY, SAPPING HIS
STAMINA AND WILL.
EVEN WHEN THE ARROWS COULDN'T
PENETRATE THE ARMOR, THEY WERE
POWERFUL FISTS WITH A LONG-RANGE
PUNCH.
>> DRAW!
LOOSE!
>> SO ARMOR HAD TO BE IMPROVED.
IN RESPONSE, ARMOR MAKERS BEGAN
TO USE SOLID METAL PLATES IN THE
OUTER LAYERS.
BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
ARMORERS WERE VERY SKILLED AT
WORKING WITH SMALL PLATES, BUT
THEY DIDN'T YET HAVE THE
TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE LARGE,
RIGID BODY PLATES.
>> IF YOU NEED TO COVER THE
TORSO, YOU HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER
ANSWER, AND THE ANSWER WAS THE
COAT OF PLATES.
THE COAT OF PLATES IS A LEATHER
OR CLOTH FACING THAT HAS SMALLER
STEEL PLATES RIVETED ONTO THE
INSIDE, WHICH ALL OVERLAP AND
CAN FLEX AND CAN MOVE.
YOU'RE PROTECTING A LARGE AREA
WITH RELATIVELY SMALL PIECES OF
METAL.
AND THIS IS GOOD ARMOR, BUT YOU
CAN STILL GET WEAPONS THROUGH
AND BETWEEN THE GAPS, AND IT'S
STILL GIVES.
YOU KNOW, IT STILL HAS SOME
FLEX, IT STILL HAS SOME GIVE,
SO IT'S NOT RESISTING SHOCK
QUITE AS WELL AS LATER FORMS.
>> EVENTUALLY, THE ARMOR
MAKERS FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE
SOLID BREASTPLATES THAT COVERED
THE TORSO.
NOW THERE WAS REAL PROTECTION
AGAINST THE WAR BOW.
>> AS THE METALWORKING
TECHNOLOGY IS IMPROVING AND
IMPROVING ALL THE TIME, THERE'S
SLOWLY MORE AND MORE IRON AND
STEEL PLATE KIND OF GROWING OVER
THE WHOLE BODY.
>> BUT A KNIGHT OR MAN
AT ARMS WEARING THIS SORT OF KIT
COULD WALK WITH REASONABLE
CONFIDENCE INTO AN ARROW STORM.
ARMOR OF THE DAY DOES IT'S JOB.
IT'S GENERALLY PROOF AGAINST
THE WEAPONS OF THE DAY.
>> YEAH, THAT'S THE IDEA,
AND AS SOON AS IT'S NOT,
IT GETS BETTER.
>> BY THE END OF THE MEDIEVAL AGE, THE NOBLE WARRIOR
DRESSED FOR WAR IN A WAY
WE ALL RECOGNIZE.
THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
THE ARMS RACE BETWEEN ARMOR
AND ARROWS WAS OVER.
IT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE KNEW KIND
OF WEAPON TO TIP THE BALANCE
AGAIN.
[explosion]
>> I'VE BEEN DISCOVERING
SOME SURPRISING REALITIES OF
LIFE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.
NOW I'M GOING MEDIEVAL TO
UNCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND THE
GREAT OBSESSION OF THE NOBLE
CLASSES: HUNTING.
[horn blaring]
HUNTING WAS CENTRAL TO MEDIEVAL
LIFE.
ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY HUNTED,
BUT FOR THE NOBILITY, IT WASN'T
JUST ABOUT SPORT OR FOOD.
WAR WAS A KNIGHT'S OCCUPATION,
BUT HUNTING WAS HIS PASSION.
AND IT WAS A PASSION THAT HELPED
HIM PREPARE FOR BATTLE.
[deer bellowing]
A FRENCH NOBLEMAN OF THE TIME
WROTE, "FOR EVERY KIND OF
MILITARY ENCOUNTER, HUNTING IS A
BETTER TRAINING THAN JOUSTING."
HUNTING WAS A HIGHLY RITUALIZED
AND REGULATED EVENT.
IT WAS A VERY HIGH-STATUS EVENT.
AND FOR HUNTING LARGE GAME,
THEY WOULD GATHER IN THE FOREST
AT DAYBREAK FOR A FORMAL
BREAKFAST.
GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
STEVE.
THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN A SOCIAL
OCCASION, ISN'T IT?
>> IT'S REINFORCING THE WHOLE
SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL
DIFFERENT SOCIAL LEVELS ALL WITH
THEIR JOB TO DO.
AND ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THAT'S
TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
AN EFFECTIVE MEDIEVAL ARMY HAS
LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SOLDIER ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
>> A HUNT WAS
METICULOUSLY PLANNED, COMBINING
MEN, HORSES, AND DOGS.
MEDIEVAL DOGS WERE NOT LIKE
MODERN PEDIGREE BREEDS.
THEY WERE TYPES OF DOG BRED
PURELY FOR PRACTICAL FUNCTION.
THE FIRST JOB WAS TO FIND
THE DEER.
AND THE HUNT MASTER WAS ABLE TO
DECIPHER CLUES LEFT BY THE
ANIMAL ITSELF.
THE HARBORER HAS BROUGHT ME
A DISH OF DEER DROPPINGS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.
THIS IS A BIG HONOR FOR THE
MASTER OF THE HUNT TO DETERMINE
FROM THESE DEER DROPPINGS WHICH
DEER TO HUNT.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY TELL BY THE
FORM OF IT, HOW FIRM IT IS--
THEY COULD BREAK IT APART AND
SNIFF IT.
A GOOD HUNTSMAN WILL BE ABLE TO
TELL WHETHER THIS IS A HEALTHY
ANIMAL, WHAT AGE IT IS, AND IF
IT'S FIT TO HUNT.
THE CHOSEN DROPPING WAS GIVEN TO
A DOG WITH AN INCREDIBLE SENSE
OF SMELL.
THESE BEAUTIFUL BLOODHOUNDS ARE
VERY MUCH A MEDIEVAL TYPE OF DOG
THAT WENT TO FIND A PARTICULAR
DEER.
>> THEIR SENSE OF SMELL IS SO
GOOD THEY CAN ACTUALLY PICK OUT
AN INDIVIDUAL DEER TO THE
EXCLUSIVITY OF ALL THE OTHER
SCENTS ON THE FOREST FLOOR AS
WELL.
>> THESE DOGS, THE RECON
MISSION, WERE WORKED ON A LEASH
FOR WHICH THE MEDIEVAL WORD WAS
"LYAM."
THEY WERE KNOWN AS "LIMERS."
ONCE THE LIMERS HAD LOCATED THE
DEER, THE AREA WAS SURROUNDED
FOR A RADIUS OF SEVERAL MILES
WITH RELAYS OF FAST RUNNING
DOGS.
>> WE NEED TO GIVE CHASE, AND
FOR THAT, YOU NEED SOME SPEED,
YOU NEED A LONG DOG.
>> SO WE WILL HAVE A
PACK FOLLOWING THE DEER, BUT THE
DEER CAN GET WELL AHEAD OF IT.
ONLY IF THE DEER GOT CLOSE TO
THE OUTER CORDON WERE THESE
RELAY DOGS LET LOOSE TO TURN HIM
BACK TOWARDS THE MAIN HUNT.
FOR THE MAIN CHASE, HUNTSMEN
USED DOGS THAT RAN IN PACKS.
SO THESE ARE THE BRACHETS.
THESE ARE THE MAIN PACK.
OFF LEASH, THEY RUN AS A PACK.
THEY'VE GOT EXTRAORDINARY
SCENTING ABILITY.
SO WHEN WE'RE RIDING AFTER THE
QUARRY ON HORSES, THESE ARE THE
HOUNDS THAT HELP US KEEP IN
CONTACT.
THESE ARE THE DOGS WITH THE
STAMINA AND THE SCENT TO GET
AFTER THE QUARRY.
[dramatic music] ♪ ♪
[horn blaring]
>> WHOO!
>> THE TACTICS, THE DANGER, THE ADRENALINE, THE
CAMARADERIE; IT WAS JUST LIKE A
MILITARY CAMPAIGN.
[horn blaring]
THE THRILL OF THE CHASE WAS
IRRESISTIBLE, AND IT PREPARED A
MAN FOR THE RIGOR OF BATTLE.
A KNIGHT ASPIRED TO SHOW AS MUCH STRENGTH AND COURAGE AND SKILL
ON THE HUNTING FIELD AS HE DID
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
HUNTING DANGEROUS GAME, GAME THAT COULD FIGHT BACK, HELD
SPECIAL STATUS.
[boars snorting]
THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS FEAT OF ALL
WAS TO HUNT THE WILD BOAR.
JUST IMAGINE THAT COMING AT YOU.
700 POUNDS OF CHARGING,
SNARLING MUSCLE ARMED WITH
DAGGER-LIKE TUSKS.
[boars squealing]
TO FACE HIM ON FOOT, THEY USED SPECIAL BOAR SPEARS WHICH HAD A
TRANSVERSE BAR, A CROSSBAR, JUST
BEHIND THE HEAD OF THE SPEAR.
THE IDEA WAS THAT EVEN IF A BOAR
WERE STUCK WITH YOUR SPEAR,
EVEN IF YOU MANAGED TO GET HIM,
HE WOULD HAVE SUCH MOMENTUM
DRIVING AT YOU THAT HE'D COME
RIGHT UP THE SHAFT AND STILL GET
YOU.
[boars squealing]
MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS SHOW
HUNTERS ATTACKING TALD BOAR WITH
SPEARS, BUT COULD YOU REALLY
DO IT?
I'M GOING TO TRY A SIMPLE
EXPERIMENT.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CURIOUS AS
TO WHETHER THESE CROSSBARS WOULD
WORK.
I MEAN, I KIND OF THINK IF A
700-POUND BOAR IS CHARGING AT
YOU, IF HE GETS THAT FAR, HE'S
PROBABLY GONNA KNOCK YOU OVER
AND YOU'RE STILL GONNA GET
GORED.
SO I'VE SET UP A LITTLE BIT OF A
TEST.
I'M GONNA GET ADAM AND GORDON TO
RUN AT ME, AND I'M GONNA SEE IF
I CAN STOP THEM.
DO YOU WANT TO GIVE IT GO, GUYS,
SEE IF YOU CAN KNOCK ME OVER?
CHARGE!
[grunts]
IT TAKES TWO TO HOLD IT.
SO MY RITE OF PASSAGE WAS TO
STAND THERE ON MY OWN AND TAKE
THAT CHARGE.
BUT AS LONG AS I HAD A GOOD
COMPANION COMING IN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, THEN I WAS SAVED THE
INDIGNITY OF BEING BOWLED OVER
BY A PIECE OF MEAT.
BUT IT WOULD BE A BRAVE MAN
INDEED WHO WOULD FACE A CHARGING
BOAR THAT WAS NOT FIRST HELD
DOWN MY MASTIFFS.
THIS WAS ANOTHER TYPE OF MEDIEVAL DOG BRED FOR JUST ONE
PURPOSE.
JAKE IS A SUSSEX BULLDOG.
HE'S A TYPE OF DOG THAT IN THE
MIDDLE AGES WOULD BE CALLED
A MASTIFF.
THE NOSE IS UP HERE, AND THAT
MEANS HE CAN HANG ON TO GAME,
HOLD GAME, PULL IT DOWN, AND
CARRY ON HOLDING IT AND YET HE
CAN STILL BREATHE UNTIL THE
HUNTER ARRIVES WITH HIS SPEAR OR
WITH HIS SWORD.
OF ALL THE WAYS A MAN COULD HUNT, THE MOST NOBLE, THE MOST
DANGEROUS, AND THE MOST ESTEEMED
WAS TO KILL THE WILD BOAR FROM
HORSEBACK WITH A SWORD.
ONCE THE GAME HAD BEEN KILLED, THE KNIGHT WOULD PERSONALLY
BUTCHER IT IN THE FIELD.
IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS MEANT
SMALL ENOUGH CUTS OF MEAT FOR
HIS SERVANTS TO CARRY HOME.
[fire crackling]
IT ALSO MEANT THAT KNIGHTS WERE
USED TO THE BLOOD AND GORE OF
DEAD ANIMALS.
IT MEANT THAT THEY WERE
FAMILIARIZED WITH IT, THAT THEY
WEREN'T SQUEAMISH ON THE
BATTLEFIELD.
BREAD SOAKED IN BLOOD AND
TOASTED OVER THE FIRE WAS THE
FAVORED REWARD FOR THE HOUNDS.
THERE'S A GOOD DOG.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY
SUCCESSFUL DAY.
WE HAD THAT MEDIEVAL HUNTING
EXPERIENCE.
WE'VE HAD THAT BONDING WITH THE
HOUNDS.
AND WE'VE HAD THAT BONDING WITH
EACH OTHER.
IT WAS LIKE A MILITARY EXERCISE.
THAT IS WHAT HUNTING WAS ABOUT
TO MEDIEVAL PEOPLE.
IT WAS A METAPHOR FOR WAR,
AND IT WAS TRAINING FOR WAR.
>> I'VE BEEN GOING
MEDIEVAL TO GET AS CLOSE TO LIFE
IN THE MIDDLE AGES AS I CAN.
I'VE HELPED BUILD CASTLES,
TRAINED AND FOUGHT WITH SWORDS,
AND TRAVELLED BY LAND AND SEA.
I'VE EXPERIENCED THE THRILL OF
THE CHASE AND TESTED WHAT IT
WOULD BE LIKE TO BE ATTACKED BY
A WILD BOAR.
NOW I'M CARRYING ONE OF NATURE'S SWIFTEST PREDATORS ON MY FIST:
A FALCON.
FOR ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND
PRESTIGE OF HUNTING DANGEROUS
GAME...
THE MOST ICONIC AND BY FAR THE MOST PREFERRED OF MEDIEVAL
HUNTING PURSUITS WAS FALCONRY.
FLY!
FOR THE RICH, FALCONS WERE THEIR MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS AND AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF THEIR
WEALTH.
THERE SHE GOES!
HA!
IN 1368, THE ENGLISH KING
EDWARD III SPENT MORE ON HIS
FALCONS THAN THE ENTIRE ANNUAL
INCOME OF HIS RICHEST NOBLEMAN.
HE ALSO HAD PERCHES FOR HIS
FAVORITE BIRDS IN HIS
BED CHAMBER.
FOR A GOOD DAY'S HAWKING, YOU
NEED SEVERAL BIRDS.
SPARE BIRDS WERE CARRIED ON THIS
FRAME CALLED A CADGE, AND THE
MAN WHO CARRIED IT WAS CALLED
THE CADGER.
TODAY WE CALL SOMEONE WHO
CARRIES GOLF CLUBS A CADDY,
WHICH COMES FROM THE SAME WORD.
SO, LOCKHART, YOU'VE NEVER
ACTUALLY HELD A FALCON BEFORE.
WELL, LET'S CHANGE THAT.
THE FALCON IS WEARING A HOOD TO
KEEP IT CALM AND QUIET.
THIS IS A LANNER FALCON.
SHE'S CALLED BAYOU.
AND LANNERS WERE VERY POPULAR
HUNTING BIRDS IN THE MIDDLE
AGES.
YOU JUST--REALLY GENTLY, YOU
CAN JUST FEEL HER CROP THERE.
GENTLY.
YOU SEE HOW FULL UP SHE IS?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> AND THAT'S BECAUSE
SHE'S BEEN FLOWN AND HAS FED
AND IS SAID TO BE FED UP.
YOU CAN SEE THAT LITTLE BULGE
THERE; SHE'S FED UP, WHICH IS
WHY SHE'S SITTING VERY QUIETLY,
AND A BIRD THAT'S SORT OF
LISTLESS AND NOT VERY INTERESTED
IN HUNTING OR--IS SIMPLY SAID TO
BE FED UP.
IT'S WHERE WE GET THAT
EXPRESSION.
GET A LOT OF EXPRESSIONS FROM
FALCONRY.
THEY NATURALLY GO TO THE HIGHEST
POINT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> YOU JUST NEED TO PUT
YOUR INDEX FINGER BEHIND HERE,
AND SHE SHOULD STEP UP.
OKAY?
>> YEAH.
>> THERE YOU SEE SHE
STEPPED UP.
NOW PINCH THAT WITH YOUR THUMB.
>> YES, I UNDERSTAND NOW.
>> NOW YOU'VE GOT HER
UNDER CONTROL.
YOU'VE GOT HER UNDER YOUR THUMB.
THAT'S WHERE THE EXPRESSION
COMES FROM.
OKAY, AND FOR EXTRA SECURITY,
I'M GONNA PUT THE LEASH, WHICH
IS ATTACHED TO THE JESSES,
I'M GOING TO WRAP THAT HERE,
SO NOW YOU'VE REALLY GOT HER
SECURE.
YOU'VE GOT HER WRAPPED AROUND
YOUR LITTLE FINGER.
HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
>> THAT FEELS GREAT.
THAT'S AMAZING.
GOT A MEDIEVAL FEEL TO IT.
IT'S JUST--WOW.
>> IT IS.
IT CONNECTS US...
>> YEAH, FROM THE GROUND TO THE
SKY.
>> TO THE WILD WORLD.
FROM THE GROUND TO THE SKY,
ABSOLUTELY.
[sweeping orchestral music] ♪ ♪
HUNTING IN SOCIAL GROUPS WAS IMPORTANT.
BUT FOOD FOR THE TABLE WAS
MOSTLY CAUGHT WITH NETS AND
TRAPS, AND SOMETIMES IT WAS A
JOB FOR THE LONE HUNTER.
SKILLED HUNTERS WOULD USE A BOW
OR CROSSBOW.
AND THEIR GREAT SKILL IS NOT
ONLY HAVING A GOOD AIM BUT
BEING ABLE TO STALK, BEING ABLE
TO GET CLOSE TO THEIR QUARRY.
[whistles]
THERE ARE SEVERAL AUTHENTIC
REFERENCES DESCRIBING WHAT MUST
HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE STRANGEST
SIGHTS OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD STALKING
HORSES.
THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE THIS.
TWO MEN IN A HORSE SUIT.
DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD WORK?
>> WELL, OF COURSE IT'S NOT
ATTEMPTING TO FOOL ANYTHING.
BUT WHAT IT DOES, CRUCIALLY, IS
BREAK UP THE HUMAN FORM.
ANYBODY WHO'S EVER RIDDEN A
HORSE INTO A FIELD WILL KNOW
THAT RABBITS ARE COMPLETELY
UNAFFECTED BECAUSE IT'S NOT
BIPEDAL.
IT'S NOT A HUMAN.
IT'S AN ANIMAL.
SO THIS IS SIMPLY A MOBILE HIDE
TO GET US CLOSE TO THE GAME.
>> BUT I WOULD SUSPECT
THAT WHEN YOU'RE ON A HORSE
THAT APART FROM THE DIFFERENT
SILHOUETTE, YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE
SMELL OF THE HORSE.
I WOULD THINK THEY PROBABLY HAD
TO SCENT THIS TO MAKE IT WORK.
>> IT'S ALREADY QUITE SCENTED
ENOUGH IN HERE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM.
YOU COULD HUNT ANY PREY WITH A STALKING HORSE, BUT THEY WERE
PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR CREEPING
UP ON DEER.
>> STOP!
CAN'T DO THAT.
>> I BEG YOUR PARDON?
>> CAN'T DO THAT.
THE PENALTY FOR DISTURBING THE
KING'S DEER IS BLINDING.
>> YEAH, HE'S RIGHT.
THIS IS A ROYAL FOREST.
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE RABBITS
AND SMALL BIRDS, BUT APART FROM
THAT, CARRYING SHARPS IS
OUTLAWED.
>> SO AN ARROW LIKE THIS
IS ILLEGAL...
>> INDEED.
>> IN THE KING'S FOREST?
WHICH MEANT THAT REGULAR PEOPLE
COULDN'T GO HUNTING TO PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE.
SO I DON'T THINK I NEED A
STALKING HORSE TO HUNT RABBITS,
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> RIGHT.
>> THE HUNTING RIGHTS OF
THE NOBILITY WERE TAKEN VERY,
VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND THE COUNTRY WAS COVERED WITH
FORESTS AND CHASES.
PLACES WHERE ONLY THE PRIVILEGED
FEW COULD HUNT.
SO IF THEY COULDN'T HUNT GAME, WHAT DID ORDINARY PEOPLE EAT?
TO FIND OUT, I BROUGHT MY
FRIENDS TOGETHER FOR A MEDIEVAL
FEAST.
NOT A ROYAL BANQUET, BUT THE
KIND OF MEAL AN ORDINARY PERSON
WITH A BIT OF LAND MIGHT HAVE ON
SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
MARC MELTONVILLE KNOWS ALL
ABOUT MEDIEVAL FOOD, AND I'M
GONNA HELP HIM PREPARE A MEAL.
SO WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS FISH
HERE, WHICH IS GONNA MAKE A
TREMENDOUS FEAST FOR MY FRIENDS.
UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE, I'M GONNA
TRY AND COOK IT,
AND IT'S A PIKE.
>> YES, THE WATER WOLF, AS IT'S
SOMETIMES KNOWN.
>> YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE
PIKE ON THE MENU TODAY, BUT IT
WAS VERY POPULAR IN THE MIDDLE
AGES.
SO, MARC, I THINK THERE'S A
GREAT MISCONCEPTION AMONG PEOPLE
THAT EVERYBODY IN THE MIDDLE
AGES GORGED THEMSELVES ON MEAT
ALL THE TIME, BUT, OF COURSE,
MEAT WAS RELATIVELY SCARCE.
>> YEAH, FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE,
EVEN WITH QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
YOU CAN'T JUST KILL A COW,
'CAUSE WHERE'S YOUR MILK
COMING FROM?
>> FISH WAS THE MAINSTAY
OF PROTEIN?
>> YEAH.
>> OF COURSE THERE WAS
NO REFRIGERATION, SO UNLESS THEY
LIVED NEAR THE SEA, PEOPLE ATE
FRESHWATER RIVER FISH, WHICH
WERE ALSO BRED IN LOCAL PONDS.
>> PONDS CAN HAVE THEIR WATER
CHANGED.
YOU CAN HAVE AN IN AND AN OUT,
SO THE FRESH WATER RUNS THROUGH
IT.
THE CLEANER THE POND, THE BETTER
THE FISH.
>> SO IS THERE A GOOD
MEDIEVAL RECIPE?
>> WE'RE GONNA BAKE IT.
>> THE PIKE IS GOING TO
BE COOKED INSIDE A PASTRY CRUST
FILLED WITH HERBS, WHICH MOST
MEDIEVAL PEOPLE WOULD SIMPLY
PICK FROM THE GARDEN.
IS THIS PASTRY GONNA TASTE GOOD?
>> NO.
THIS PASTRY IS DESIGNED ENTIRELY
AS A COOKING POT.
THE IDEA IS IT IS OUR OVEN DISH.
THEY DON'T HAVE OVEN DISHES YET,
SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU WRAP
SOMETHING IN PASTRY AND THAT'S
THE COOKING POT.
>> SO IT'S MEDIEVAL
ALUMINUM FOIL.
>> IT IS.
ACTUALLY WANT IT TO LOOK
REASONABLY GOOD, BECAUSE NOT
ONLY IS IT OUR COOK POT, BUT
IT'S OUR SERVING DISH AS WELL.
>> WHILE WE'RE BAKING
THE FISH, THE OTHERS ARE TUCKING
INTO FLAGONS OF ALE.
PEOPLE DRANK ALE AT EVERY MEAL,
INCLUDING BREAKFAST.
IT WAS SURPRISINGLY NUTRITIOUS,
AND UNLIKE MOST MEDIEVAL WATER
SUPPLIES, FERMENTING THE ALE
MADE IT SAFE TO DRINK.
[laughter]
ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, AND HERE
IS THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE.
WE HAVE ROAST PIKE.
LOOK AT THIS FISH.
I WOULD START WITH A BIT OF
FISH.
>> MIKE, TRY IT. IT'S LOVELY.
>> YEAH, I NEED TO TRY--
I NEED TO TRY A LITTLE BIT OF
THIS.
>> IT'S LIKE, UM...
>> THAT'S RATHER GOOD.
>> I REALLY LIKE THIS
PIKE.
>> YEAH.
>> WE'VE GOT OTHER
AUTHENTIC MEDIEVAL DISHES,
INCLUDING ROAST MUTTON, MUSHY
PEAS, AND APPLES AND HONEY
COOKED IN ALMOND MILK.
>> VERY SWEET.
>> IT'S REALLY GOOD.
>> AYE, IT'S LOVELY.
>> WE HAVE GOT SOMETHING
CALLED ABILETTI, WHICH IS
CURDLED CHEESE AND EGGS.
NOT NECESSARILY TO EVERYONE'S
TASTE.
>> IT'S PROBABLY ITS APPEARANCE
THAT'S THE MOST OFF-PUTTING.
>> IT'S LIKE COTTAGE CHEESE,
REALLY--
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE TO ME.
>> IT TASTES BETTER THAN IT
LOOKS.
>> IN AN AGE BEFORE
FORKS, THERE WAS A STRICT
ETIQUETTE WHEN IT CAME TO
HANDLING FOOD AT THE TABLE.
YOU SIMPLY DON'T EAT WITH YOUR
KNIFE, AND FORKS HAVEN'T BEEN
INVENTED, BUT YOU USE THE
FINGERS OF COURTESY, WHICH ARE
THESE TWO, SO THAT AS YOU EAT
THE MEAT, YOU HIDE YOUR MOUTH.
OF COURSE MEDIEVAL PEOPLE DIDN'T
EAT LIKE THIS EVERY DAY, BUT
THEY DID HAVE A FAIRLY
WELL-BALANCED DIET TO GET THEM
THROUGH THEIR HARDWORKING LIVES.
SO HOW DID THEY MANAGE TO PUT
ALL THIS WONDERFUL FOOD ON THE
TABLE?
>> ON MY JOURNEY, I'VE
DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS WITH
ANIMALS, I'VE RIDDEN A POWERFUL
WAR STALLION, AND SPED ALONG ON
TRAVELLING HORSES.
I'VE PUT HUNTING DOGS THROUGH
THEIR PACES.
AND I'VE FLOWN MAGNIFICENT
FALCONS.
FLY!
THE MEDIEVAL WORLD WAS TEEMING WITH ANIMALS.
PEOPLE'S LIVES DEPENDED ON THEM,
AND ANIMALS ALL HAD A JOB TO DO.
IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, MOST PEOPLE KEPT A PIG.
THEY'D HAVE A BREEDING SOW.
THE PIGLETS WOULD GO TO MARKET,
BUT THEY'D KEEP ONE BACK TO EAT
THEMSELVES.
IN THE FALL, THEY'D FATTEN IT UP
WITH A SYSTEM KNOWN AS PANNAGE;
TAKING IT TO GRAZE IN COMMON
WOODLAND.
HERE, PIG.
THIS IS ALEX LANGLANDS.
HE'S AN EXPERT ON MEDIEVAL
FARMING.
>> PANNAGE IS ALL ABOUT GRAZING,
GRAZING THE WOODLANDS.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU'D WANT
TO GET THE PIGS OUT THERE
GRAZING BECAUSE IT REALLY
FATTENS THEM UP.
SO WHAT THEY DO IS--JUST LIKE
WE'RE DOING HERE, TURNING OVER
THE FOREST FLOOR, LOOKING FOR
THE BEECHMAST, LOOKING FOR
ACORNS, COBNUTS.
ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WHICH
WOULD FEED THESE THROUGHOUT
THESE AUTUMN MONTHS.
HERE, PIG, PIG.
>> HERE, PIG.
THE HUNT FOR FOOD TURNED PIGS
INTO THE ROTOTILLERS OF THE
MEDIEVAL WORLD.
>> IF YOU WANT TO CLEAR LAND,
THE BEST THING TO DO IT IS
THE PIG.
TODAY WE HAVE THESE BIG
CULTIVATORS, MACHINE THAT GO IN
AND CHEW EVERYTHING UP.
WELL, WHY USE THOSE MACHINES
WHEN YOU CAN USE PIGS TO DO IT?
>> IT WAS A VERY
INTERDEPENDENT SOCIETY.
IN THE SAME WAY THAT NATURE IS
INTERDEPENDENT, PEOPLE MIRRORED
THAT NATURAL WORLD, AND IT ALL
FUNCTIONED VERY WELL.
>> YEAH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> IN A DEEPLY SUPERSTITIOUS AGE, PIGS WERE
SOMETIMES TREATED AS HUMAN.
IN FRANCE IN 1386, A PIG WAS
ACCUSED OF KILLING A CHILD.
IT WAS PUT ON TRIAL, CONVICTED,
AND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY PUBLIC
HANGING.
[geese honking] FLOCKS OF GEESE WERE TO BE FOUND
IN EVERY VILLAGE.
AND LIKE EVERY ANIMAL, THEY HAD
TO EARN THEIR KEEP.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
THE MEDIEVAL WORLD IS HOW
EVERYBODY SHARED EVERYTHING
SO MUCH.
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A LOWLY GOOSE
HERD WITH HIS FLOCK OF GEESE,
BUT HE WOULD HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT
WITH THE MAN WHO OWNED AN
ORCHARD.
>> GEESE CAN DO A GREAT JOB HERE
IN THE ORCHARD.
THEY'LL NOT ONLY FATTEN UP
THEMSELVES BY KEEPING THE WEEDS
DOWN, BUT OTHER THING IS BIRD
DROPPINGS ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR
QUALITIES OF BASICALLY
FERTILIZING THE SOIL.
[geese honking]
>> AND GEESE ARE TAKEN
TO MARKET.
AND, I MEAN, TRYING TO PUSH THEM
THROUGH THIS ORCHARD IS
HARD ENOUGH.
[geese honking]
EVERY PART OF THE GOOSE WOULD BE USED.
THE MEAT AND EGGS MADE EXCELLENT
EATING.
GOOSE FAT WAS USED FOR GREASING
THE BEARINGS ON WATER WHEELS AND
THE LIKE.
AND THE FEATHERS WENT INTO
BEDDING AND FOR MAKING ARROWS,
THAT IS, IF YOU COULD
CATCH THEM.
UH, MAYBE THIS IS A TWO-MAN JOB.
>> DRAW! >> MEDIEVAL PEOPLE WERE
FIGHTERS, BUILDERS, HUNTERS,
SAILORS, BUT IT WAS A WORLD
DOMINATED BY AGRICULTURE.
700 YEARS AGO, 90% OF THE
POPULATION OF EUROPE LIVED ON
WHAT THEY PRODUCED FROM LABORING
IN T FIELDS.
OXEN WERE THE TRACTORS OF THE
MEDIEVAL AGE.
PLOWING WAS DONE WITH OXEN,
ALEX.
VERY OFTEN WITH VERY LARGE
TEAMS.
>> ON MOST MANORS, YOU KNOW,
YOU'D HAVE TEAMS OF UP TO EIGHT
OXEN.
AND YOU MIGHT BRING YOUR OXEN
ALONG AND I'D BRING MINE ALONG
AND THEN THE LORD MIGHT PROVIDE
TWO.
IN THIS CASE, UNFORTUNATELY, ONE
OF THE OXEN IS LAME, SO WE'RE
ONLY GONNA WORK WITH TWO.
[mooing]
>> AN OX GOING LAME
COULD SPELL DISASTER WHEN FIELDS
HAD TO BE PLOWED.
SO IT WAS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAT THE COMMUNITY POOLED THEIR
RESOURCES.
THE YOKE HAD BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND MEDIEVAL
PEOPLE STILL USED THIS ANCIENT
TECHNOLOGY FOR ATTACHING THE
OXEN TO THE PLOW.
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE, BUT VERY
EFFECTIVE SYSTEM.
>> BUT IT'S THE BEST WAY TO
CAPITALIZE ON THE STRENGTH THAT
THESE ANIMALS HAVE IN THEIR
SHOULDERS.
AND OF COURSE THE MORE OXEN
YOU'VE GOT WORKING, THE EASIER
IT IS ON EVERY SINGLE BEAST, THE
MORE WORK YOU CAN DO IN A DAY.
>> HEAD UP.
GOOD.
OOH, GOOD.
THAT'S IT, NICE AND STEADY.
STEADY.
WALK ON.
MOVE OVER.
GET OVER.
>> THE THING ABOUT THE OXEN,
IT DOES NEED CONSTANT
ENCOURAGEMENT.
>> GET OVER.
GET OVER.
AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT CHANGE
THAT HAPPENED DURING THE
MEDIEVAL PERIOD WAS A MAJOR
ADVANCE IN AGRICULTURAL
TECHNOLOGY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE HEAVY PLOW.
>> THIS REALLY IS THE BUSINESS
END OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD FOR
ME.
THIS IS THE HEAVY PLOW.
IT ENABLES YOU TO CUT INTO THESE
DEEP CLAYS, STIFF CLAYS, THAT,
OF COURSE, NORTHERN EUROPE WAS
FAMOUS FOR.
PRIOR TO THIS PLOW, WHAT YOU
WERE DOING WAS JUST SCRATCHING
THE SURFACE.
BUT THE TECHNOLOGY HERE
UNLEASHES THE FERTILITY,
AND THAT'S THE CRITICAL THING,
BECAUSE THEN YIELDS ABSOLUTELY
EXPLODE, POPULATION EXPLODES,
YOU GOT A MASSIVE GROWTH IN
TOWNS, MORE CASH, BIGGER TOWNS,
AND A FURTHER POPULATION BOOM.
>> AND NONE OF THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT
THE BRUTE STRENGTH OF THE TEAMS
OF OXEN THAT PULLED THE PLOW.
MEDIEVAL LAND WAS DIVIDED UP
INTO STRIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
WORK.
THERE WERE NO FENCES BETWEEN THE
STRIPS, BUT EVERYONE KNEW WHICH
BIT WAS THEIRS.
>> BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY'D ALL BE
WORKING TOGETHER IN COMMON FOR
THE SORT OF GREATER GOOD OF THE
FIELD, IF YOU LIKE.
>> WHOA.
'CAUSE THE PLOWMAN WOULD PLOW
FOR EVERYBODY.
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> PLOWING THESE HEAVY
SOILS IS HARD WORK AND WAS A
SKILLED JOB.
THE PLOWMAN WOULD BE PAID WITH
A PERCENTAGE OF THE HARVEST OR
WITH OTHER PRODUCE.
FOR EVERYONE ELSE, THEY LIVED ON
WHAT THEY GREW.
>> WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING TO
DO IS TO GET ENOUGH CEREAL TO
LAST YOU THROUGH THE YEAR,
WHETHER IT'S KEEPING YOU IN BEER
OR IN RYE BREAD OR IN BREAD.
BUT YOU'D ALSO--YOU'VE GOT TO
SET ASIDE ENOUGH GRAIN CROP TO
SOW THE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
>> OF COURSE.
AND EVERYONE HAD TO GROW ENOUGH
TO PAY THEIR TAXES TO THE LORD■■
OF THE MANOR.
THE RICH GREW RICHER OFF THE FAT
OF THE LAND.
THE WEALTH OF THE MIDDLE AGES IS
IN THE SOIL; IT'S IN THE LAND.
IT WAS UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL
OF THE HEAVY SOILS OF NORTHERN
EUROPE THAT ALLOWED IT TO FLOWER
DURING THE 13TH AND 14TH
CENTURIES AND TO BECOME THE
RICHEST PLACE ON EARTH.
>> I'VE BEEN EXPLORING
THE MEDIEVAL WORLD...
>> LOOSE!
>> BOTH IN WAR...
AND PEACE.
ALONG THE WAY, I'VE TRIED TO CHALLENGE OUR IDEAS ABOUT THE
PEOPLE AND HOW THEY LIVED.
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MODERN
PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE MIDDLE
AGES IS THAT EVERYBODY WAS
FILTHY, DIRTY, AND SMELLY.
NOW, I'M SURE A LOT OF THEM
WERE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY
ARE.
PERSONAL HYGIENE IS NOT A
QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PRODUCTS
ARE AVAILABLE.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR
NOT YOU USE THEM.
THEY DID HAVE SOAP.
DR. CATHERINE FLOWER-BOND
IS A SPECIALIST IN
MEDIEVAL DOMESTIC LIFE,
AND SHE'S MADE THESE SOAPS
FROM AUTHENTIC MEDIEVAL RECIPES.
SO A SOAP LIKE THAT, IS IT
EXPENSIVE OR IS IT AVAILABLE TO
ALL STATIONS OF SOCIETY?
>> NOW, THAT'S AVAILABLE TO
EVERYBODY, THAT PARTICULAR SOAP,
BECAUSE IT'S MADE WITH TALLOW...
>> WHICH IS SHEEP FAT.
>> AND RELATIVELY CHEAP.
BUT I'VE ALSO ADDED SOME STALE
URINE THAT I PERCOLATED THROUGH
AS WELL.
>> WHICH GIVES AMMONIA,
WHICH IS BLEACH.
>> YES, THAT'S GONNA HELP WITH
YOUR STUBBORN STAINS AND COLLARS
AND CUFFS AND THINGS TO GET
THE WORST OF THE GRIME OFF.
>> ANY PEASANT COULD
MAKE THIS?
>> YES, THAT'S RELATIVELY CHEAP
TO PRODUCE.
WHAT'S EVEN CHEAPER IS ONE LIKE
THIS, WHICH HAS JUST GOT BASIC
PIG FAT OR LARD IN.
>> UM...
GOSH, MY WIFE WILL BE ASTONISHED TO SEE THIS.
CERTAINLY HARD WORK.
>> YES, IT IS.
AND COLD TOO.
NOT A HOT-WATER PROCESS AT ALL.
IT'S ALWAYS COLD WATER.
>> AND THE THING ABOUT
THE MIDDLE AGES IS, THEY HAD
SOAP AND INGENIOUS WASHING
APPARATUS LIKE THIS.
>> INDEED.
>> SO THIS IS CALLED A
BATTLEDORE.
>> IT IS.
OR A BEETLE.
AND SO THAT'S GONNA FORCE THE
DIRT THROUGH THE FIBERS.
THE PROCESS IS EXACTLY THE SAME
AS YOU'RE USING A MODERN WASHING
MACHINE.
>> BUT THESE ARE LAUNDRY
SOAPS.
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WASHING
THEMSELVES?
>> WELL, PEOPLE SOAPS,
THERE'S A SELECTION HERE.
SO YOU CAN PUT ROSES IN IT OR
MARIGOLD OR WHATEVER SMELLS YOU
PARTICULARLY LIKE.
AND SO A LITTLE BIT MORE
EXPENSIVE AND--
>> THAT'S REALLY NICE.
>> OR YOU COULD HAVE JUST A
PLAIN BAR LIKE THIS ONE HERE.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD REFER
TO AS CASTILE SOAP.
BUT THIS IS RESERVED FOR SOMEONE
OF SOME WEALTH.
>> YEAH, I CAN FEEL
THAT'S AN EXTREMELY LUXURIOUS
SOAP.
IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE A
MOISTURIZER AT THE SAME TIME.
>> VERY NICE TO USE.
>> MEDIEVAL PEOPLE DIDN'T IGNORE THEIR TEETH
EITHER.
TODAY AMERICANS SPEND $2 BILLION
A YEAR ON TOOTHBRUSHES.
700 YEARS AGO, THEY WERE FREE.
WITH STICKS LIKE HAZEL, LICORICE
STICK, OR THE MARSHMALLOW ROOT.
SO YOU SEE, YOU WOULD CHEW IT.
IT BECOMES QUITE FIBROUS, REALLY
LIKE THE BRISTLES OF
A TOOTHBRUSH.
IT'S NOT AS SOFT OR AS
COMFORTABLE AS MY MODERN
TOOTHBRUSH, BUT IT WORKS.
IT'S--SORRY, I'VE GOT ALL THE
BITS IN MY MOUTH.
>> [laughs]
>> IT'S--
[cow mooing]
SHH.
TOOTHPASTE CAME STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE HERB GARDEN.
>> THIS IS SALT AND SAGE.
JUST RUB IT ROUND.
>> OOH, IT'S QUITE NICE.
YEAH, I LIKE IT.
>> THE SAGE STOPS BLEEDING GUMS,
AND THE SALT TAKES ALL THE
PLAQUE AWAY.
>> BUT IT WASN'T JUST
ABOUT HAVING FRESH BREATH AND
BEING PLEASANT SOCIALLY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ALL AROUND YOU WAS FOUL-SMELLING
AIR AND WHAT THEY PERCEIVED TO
BE DISEASES ALL AROUND YOU THAT
YOU CAN SMELL IN AND INGEST
INSIDE OF YOU.
AND SO THEY WOULD MAKE THINGS
LIKE THESE, WHICH ARE BEADS,
POMANDER BEADS, MADE FROM HERBS.
SO YOU GO OUT INTO THE WORLD,
INTO NEW AREAS, THE MARKET,
WHEREVER THAT SMELLS BAD.
YOU PICK UP YOUR BEADS, YOU WARM
THEM IN YOUR HANDS, YOU SMELL
THEM CLOSE, AND BREATHE IN THE
FUMES AND YOU FUMIGATE YOURSELF
AGAINST THOSE DISEASES.
>> IT'S A VERY STRONG
SMELL, A VERY POWERFUL SMELL,
AND IT'S EXTRAORDINARY THAT THAT
WAS THE BELIEF, THAT YOU COULD
FUMIGATE YOURSELF, BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVE THAT ALL DISEASE WAS
CARRIED BY THE MIASMA: THE FOUL
SMELLS IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
AND IF YOU BREATHE THEM IN,
THAT'S HOW YOU CAUGHT DISEASE.
IF FUMIGATING WITH HERBS DIDN'T
WORK, PEOPLE COULD GO TO THEIR
LOCAL DOCTOR FOR ONE OF THE MOST
BIZARRE TREATMENTS OF THE MIDDLE
AGES.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF MEDIEVAL
THINGS IN MY TIME, BUT I'VE
NEVER TRIED THIS BEFORE:
BEING BLED BY LEECHES.
RORY MCCREADIE IS AN EXPERT IN
MEDIEVAL MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
OOH, LITTLE TICKLE.
>> THAT COULD BE IT.
>> SO YOU'VE JUST PUT
A LIVE LEECH ON MY ARM.
>> YEAH.
>> AND I CAN FEEL THE SLIGHTEST
PRICK AS HE'S BURROWING IN.
AND THIS WAS A BASIC PRACTICE IN
MEDIEVAL MEDICINE?
>> YES.
>> THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
BELIEVED THAT YOUR WELL-BEING
WAS CONTROLLED BY FOUR
MYSTERIOUS BODY FLUIDS CALLED
HUMORS.
THESE WERE BLACK BILE, YELLOW
BILE, PHLEGM, AND BLOOD.
BLEEDING BY LEECHES WAS SUPPOSED
TO KEEP THESE HUMORS IN BALANCE.
>> YOU WOULD BE BLED QUITE FREQUENTLY.
THE IDEA WAS QUITE OFTEN YOU'D
BE BLED, KEEP EVERYTHING IN
BALANCE.
>> AND THAT WOULD MAKE
ME FEEL AT EASE?
>> YES, HENCE, YOU WOULDN'T BE
AT "DIS-EASE" OR, THE MODERN
WORD, DISEASE.
THAT'S WHERE IT COS FROM.
>> I SEE.
AND HE'S GETTING QUITE FAT NOW.
AND OF COURSE HE'S ACTUALLY
INJECTING AN ENZYME INTO ME THAT
THINS MY BLOOD,
AN ANTICOAGULATE.
>> YES, THE ENZYMES IN LEECHES
ARE BEING USED RIGHT NOW FOR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE STROKES TO BREAK
DOWN THE BLOOD CLOTS.
>> BUT THERE WAS ONE DISEASE THAT NO AMOUNT OF
TREATMENT WITH LEECHES OR
ANYTHING ELSE COULD CURE.
IT WAS CALLED THE BLACK DEATH.
BETWEEN 1348 AND 1350, A GREAT PESTILENCE SWEPT OVER EUROPE,
KILLING 50% OF THE POPULATION.
CARTLOADS OF DEAD WERE TIPPED
INTO MASS GRAVES, AND THEY WERE
THEN STACKED INTO NEAT PILES
FIVE DEEP.
AND THAT'S WHY THERE WERE
BIZARRE CREATURES LIKE THIS,
THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES, TO BE
FOUND STALKING THE STREETS AND
LURKING IN THE HOUSES OF THE
DYING.
BUT IN FACT, IT'S A DOCTOR.
IT'S A PLAGUE DOCTOR.
AND IF WE CAN ASSIST YOU OFF
WITH THE HOOD, UH, YOU'RE REALLY
WEARING THE EQUIVALENT OF A
BIOCHEMICAL HAZARD SUIT.
>> YES, STOPS STOPS ALL THE AIRS
GETTING THROUGH TO ME.
KEEPS ME SAFE WHERE I'M DEALING
WITH THE SICK AND THE DYING.
>> 'CAUSE THIS IS WAXED
I CAN FEEL.
>> IT'S WAXED.
>> AND INSIDE IT'S QUITE
AROMATIC.■■
IT'S QUITE PLEASANT SMELLING.
>> INSIDE IS A SACHET OF HERBS
OR A SPONGE THAT'S BEEN DIPPED
IN VINEGAR,
AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE
AIR AROMATIC FOR ME TO BREATHE
AND SAFE FOR ME TO BREATHE.
SO THIS IS WHAT I'D WEAR TO
PROTECT MYSELF WHEN VISITING THE
SICK AND THE DYING.
I MEAN, ALL I CAN DO IS GIVE
SOME MEDICINES, WHICH I GIVE
WITH MY LONG SPOON TO KEEP FAR
AWAY AS POSSIBLE.
>> SO YOU'RE STANDING
OFF AT A DISTANCE.
I MEAN, HOW MUCH CHANCE DID A
PLAGUE VICTIM STAND IF YOU CAME
TO ATTEND THEM?
NOT MUCH.
>> NOT MUCH.
ABSOLUTE AWFUL WAY TO GO.
>> SPREAD BY FLEAS CARRIED ON RATS, THE PLAGUE PUT
ITS VICTIMS THROUGH A HORRIBLE
DEATH.
BLACK, FOUL-SMELLING LUMPS
APPEARED ALL OVER THE BODY.
WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THE
INFECTION APPEARING, MOST PEOPLE
DIED IN AGONY.
THE BLACK DEATH WAS THE GREAT FAILURE OF MEDIEVAL MEDICINE.
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE IT
CAME FROM, AND THEY DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND HOW TO TREAT IT.
IT WAS A FAILURE THAT ULTIMATELY
LED TO THE END OF THE MEDIEVAL
WORLD.
THE PLAGUE MAY HAVE WIPED OUT
HALF THE POPULATION, BUT IT
DIDN'T PUT A STOP TO WAR AND
AGGRESSION.
>> I'VE GONE AS CLOSE AS
POSSIBLE TO THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
TO EXPERIENCE HOW PEOPLE DEALT
WITH HYGIENE, HEALTH, AND
TERRIBLE DISEASE.
I'VE GONE MEDIEVAL TO HELP BUILD
A BRAND-NEW CASTLE.
NOW I'M GOING TO FIND OUT HOW TO
KNOCK ONE DOWN.
THIS IS THE BIG MOMENT.
STONE CASTLES WERE BUILT FOR
DEFENSE.
THE MASSIVE WALLS OF THE CASTLE
BEING CONSTRUCTED HERE AT
GUEDELON IN FRANCE ARE 12 FEET
THICK, PROOF AGAINST ALMOST
EVERY FORM OF ATTACK.
BUT THERE WAS ONE WEAPON THAT
COULD BRING DOWN EVEN THE
STRONGEST CASTLE WALLS.
IT WAS CALLED THE COUNTERWEIGHT
TREBUCHET, AND IT WAS A GIANT
SIEGE ENGINE.
TREBUCHETS WERE GIVEN NICKNAMES.
THE FEARSOME ENGINE THAT
EDWARD I TOOK TO THE SIEGE OF
STIRLING CASTLE WAS CALLED
"WAR WOLF."
ANOTHER POPULAR NAME WAS
MAL VOISIN.
IT MEANS "BAD NEIGHBOR,"
AND TREBUCHETS WERE CERTAINLY
THAT.
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
THAT MUST HAVE GONE AT LEAST 500 OR 600 YARDS.
LET'S LOAD UP AND DO IT AGAIN.
THESE ENORMOUS MACHINES COULD HURL MASSIVE STONES TO SMASH
INTO A CASTLE WALL UP TO A MILE
AWAY.
AT THE MEDIEVAL CENTER IN
DENMARK, THEY'VE BUILT A
FULL-SIZE WORKING REPLICA OF A
TREBUCHET, AND HERE'S HOW IT
WORKS.
MEN WALKING INSIDE TWO
TREADWHEELS WIND UP A ROPE WHICH
PULLS THE LONG ARM OF THE
TREBUCHET DOWN AND LIFTS THE
COUNTERWEIGHT UP.
WHEN THE ARM IS RELEASED, THE
COUNTERWEIGHT DROPS, FLINGING
THE ARM AND ITS DEADLY LOAD UP
AND OVER.
EDWARD THE I'S TREBUCHET, WAR
WOLF, WAS SO HUGE IT TOOK FIVE
CARPENTERS AND 50 MEN
THREE MONTHS TO BUILD.
WITH AMMUNITION CALIBRATED TO THE SAME SIZE AND WEIGHT, THE
TREBUCHET WAS DEADLY ACCURATE.
YOU COULD HIT THE SAME PIECE OF
CASTLE WALL AGAIN AND AGAIN,
WEAKENING IT UNTIL IT WAS
BREACHED.
IMAGINE THAT DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
THIS GREAT HOPPER HOLDS UP TO
TEN TONS OF STONE, AND I'VE GOT
TO HELP LIFT IT.
THIS IS REALLY QUITE EXHAUSTING
WORK.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF
MEASURING ENERGY; JOULES, WATTS,
ALL SORTS OF THINGS; BUT THERE'S
NOTHING LIKE MEASURING THE POWER
OF THIS GREAT MACHINE THAN
WALKING IT IN.
EVERY MUSCLE FEELS EVERY OUNCE
OF ENERGY THAT WE PULL BACK
HERE.
A BATTLE-HARDENED TEAM COULD
RAISE THE COUNTERWEIGHT
IN 15 MINUTES.
THAT MEANT A CONSTANT
BOMBARDMENT OF STONES ALL DAY...
AND ALL NIGHT TOO. STONES WEREN'T THE ONLY THING
USED BY TREBUCHETS.
THEY WERE ALSO USED TO HURL THE
ROTTING CARCASSES OF DEAD
ANIMALS TO SPREAD DISEASE WITHIN
THE CASTLE.
THEY WERE USED TO THROW
BEEHIVES.
THEY WERE USED TO SEND HOME THE
DECAPITATED HEADS OF ENEMY
PRISONERS.
THEY WERE USED AS
TERROR WEAPONS.
BUT MOST TERRIFYING OF ALL, THEY
WERE USED TO THROW GREAT
FIREBALLS.
CLEAR!
LOOK AT THAT. THERE'S THE ROAR OF FLAME
THROUGH THE SKY.
AND THESE BALLS WOULD CRASH
THROUGH THE CASTLE ROOFS, CRASH
INTO THE WOODEN STRUCTURES, THE
STABLES, AND ALL THE BUILDINGS
WITHIN THE COURTYARD AND SET THE
WHOLE PLACE ABLAZE.
THE CASTLE'S DEFENDERS OFTEN HAD TO BE PREPARED TO WAIT IT OUT
FOR A LONG TIME.
MOST OF MEDIEVAL WARFARE WAS
SIEGE WARFARE, AND THAT YOU HAD
TO BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND FOR
MONTHS IF NECESSARY.
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING
ABOUT A CASTLE IS HAVING A WATER
SUPPLY WITHIN THE WALLS.
MANY CASTLES WOULD HAVE TWO,
THREE WELLS.
YOU COULD WITHSTAND A SIEGE FOR
WEEKS, MAYBE MONTHS, WITH VERY
LITTLE FOOD.
BUT YOU COULD ONLY GO DAYS
WITHOUT WATER.
IN THE 1400s, HARLECH CASTLE IN
WALES WAS BESIEGED FOR SEVEN
YEARS; THE LONGEST SIEGE IN
BRITISH HISTORY.
BUT THE SOLDIERS BEHIND THE
CASTLE WALL WEREN'T DEFENSELESS.
IF THE ENEMY GOT WITHIN BOW
SHOT, DEFENDERS COULD SHOOT OUT
OF THE LONG, NARROW SLITS BUILT
INTO THE WALLS.
THESE ARE CALLED ARROW LOOPS,
AND I'M GOING MEDIEVAL TO TRY
OUT AN IDEA THAT I'VE HAD ABOUT
HOW BEST TO USE THEM.
IF YOU'VE GOT MEN RUSHING AT
YOUR WALLS, YOU NEED TO SHOOT AS
MANY AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO YOU CAN WORK IN TEAMS
LIKE THIS.
TWO OF YOU OPERATING AGAINST ONE
LOOP.
IT ALSO GIVES THE IMPRESSION TO
THE ENEMY THAT YOU'VE GOT
GREATER FORCES THAN YOU HAVE.
YOU MAY THINK IT'S STRANGE THAT
WE'RE SHOOTING FROM SUCH A
DISTANCE, BUT THERE'S TWO
REASONS FOR THAT.
I CAN'T STAND THIS CLOSE TO IT
BECAUSE MY BOW LIMBS WILL SLAP.
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER REASON I
HAVE TO STAND BACK, AND IT'S
CALLED THE ARCHER'S PARADOX.
WHEN AN ARROW LEAVES A BOW, THE
FORCE OF THE STRING BEHIND IT
BENDS IT AROUND THE BOW.
IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENS IS IT
BENDS AS MUCH AS THAT AND THEN
IT WHIPS BACK TO BEND THE OTHER
WAY.
AND FOR THE FIRST 12 OR 15 FEET,
IT'S MAKING THIS SERPENTINE
PROGRESS.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN SLOWED DOWN 150 TIMES.
AS IT SNAKES THROUGH THE AIR, IT TAKES ABOUT 15 FEET BEFORE THIS
ARROW STRAIGHTENS OUT.
SO FROM HERE, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK BACK UNTIL I'M SHOOTING
STRAIGHT.
OF COURSE A SLIT THAT LETS
ARROWS OUT CAN ALSO LET ARROWS
IN, THOUGH THEY WERE A HARDER
TARGET.
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHETHER
THE ARROWS GO THROUGH CLEANLY OR
IF THEY JUST RATTLE AGAINST THE
WALL.
THE ARCHERS INSIDE THAT ARROW
LOOP ARE GOING TO BE QUITE
INTIMIDATED IF THERE'S A COUPLE
OF ARCHERS OUT HERE SHOOTING IN
AT THEM.
THE NOISE INSIDE WITH
METAL-HEADED ARROWS WOULD BE
VERY FRIGHTENING INDEED.
SOMETIMES THE ATTACKER'S HAND WOULD BE FORCED.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO TAKE
THIS CASTLE IN A HURRY?
FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE ARE
REINFORCEMENTS ON THE WAY, IF
THE ENEMY HAS GOT MORE TROOPS
COMING AND I NEED TO GET IN,
I NEED TO GET IN QUICK.
THESE WALLS LOOK PRETTY
INTIMIDATING, SO MY OPTIONS ARE
LIMITED.
[dramatic music] ♪ ♪
ONE OF THE MOST DESPERATE AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS WAYS TO TAKE A CASTLE
WAS BY ESCALADE--GNG IN OVER
THE TOP OF THE WALLS.
SOMETIMES THEY WOULD BUILD
ELABORATE SIEGE TOWERS.
BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT WAS
JUST A QUESTION OF BRAVE MEN
AND LADDERS.
IT WAS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS
BUSINESS.
THERE'D BE PEOPLE DROPPING ROCKS
ON YOUR HEAD, AND THERE'S ALSO
ARCHERS WHO CAN SHOOT AT YOU
FROM THE SIDE.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP THAT
LADDER.
THERE ARE MEN BEHIND YOU.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE TOP, YOU'RE
NOT GONNA GET A FRIENDLY
WELCOME.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ATTACK YOU.
AND THAT NOW BECOMES PROBLEMATIC
FOR ME.
I'M HANGING ON TO THE LADDER
WITH ONE HAND AND I'VE GOT MY
SHIELD IN THE OTHER HAND.
IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME
TO DRAW MY SWORD; IT'S AWKWARD.
MAYBE I CAN GET A DAGGER OUT
QUICKER.
BUT THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T
INTIMIDATE YOU TOO MUCH,
DOES IT?
>> NO, I MEAN, I CAN THRUST
THROUGH--MOVE--
TAKE YOU OUT OF THE WAY
AND THEN SMASH YOU OFF THE WALL.
THE GLARING OPTION FOR ME HERE
IS TO TRY AND PUSH THIS LADDER
AWAY FROM THE WALL, BUT I CAN'T
MOVE IT.
>> THERE WOULD BE 15, 20
BEEFY SOLDIERS ON THIS LADDER
BEHIND ME.
THIS IS AN IMMENSE WEIGHT
AGAINST THE WALL.
IN ORDER TO GET IT OFF, YOU'D
NEED TREMENDOUS LEVERAGE. YOU'D NEED A LEVER.
YOU'D NEED A BAR.
>> I NEED A BAR, AND I NEED TEN
BURLY MEN TO EXERT THAT
INFLUENCE AGAINST THAT.
BUT THAT'S GONNA TIE UP TEN
VITAL DEFENDERS.
>> SO MY JOB IS NOT SO
MUCH TO GET OVER.
MY JOB IS TO TAKE MY TIME, GET
MY SWORD OUT, AND HOLD YOU INTO
POSITION, HOLD YOU WHERE YOU
ARE, KEEP YOU FIGHTING BACK
AND OCCUPIED.
BUT EVEN IF YOU MANAGE TO SCALE THE WALLS AND GET INTO THE
CASTLE, THE DEFENDERS STILL HAD
ONE LAST TRICK IN STORE.
SO I'VE GOT OVER THE OUTER
DEFENSES.
I'VE GOT OVER THE WALL.
I'VE RAMMED THROUGH THIS
IRONSHOD DOOR.
AND NOW I'M IN THIS VERY SMALL
CHAMBER IN THE LAST BASTION,
IN THE KEEP OF THE CASTLE.
BUT THERE WAS NO LIMIT TO THE
INGENUITY OF THE CASTLE
DESIGNERS BECAUSE ABOVE ME IS
A MURDER HOLE.
[banging]
THAT IS NOT GONNA BE FUN ON YOUR HEAD.
HE CAN BE ARMED WITH HUNDREDS OF
STONES UP THERE.
YOU CAN GET ONLY FOUR OR FIVE
MEN IN HERE.
YOU CAN JUST PICK 'EM OFF.
HOWEVER BIG THAT ARMY IS, YOU
CAN DEFEAT THEM AT THIS LAST
POSITION.
>> I'VE BEEN GOING MEDIEVAL TO TACKLE OUR
MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE PERIOD AND
TO EXPERIENCE MEDIEVAL LIFE FOR
MYSELF.
NOW I'M GOING TO LOOK AT ONE MEDIEVAL INVENTION THAT CHANGED
THE NATURE OF WARFARE FOREVER.
FOR MOST OF THE MIDDLE AGES, WARS WERE FOUGHT WITH SWORD AND
SPEAR, LANCE AND ARROW.
BUT IN THE 14TH CENTURY, AN
INVENTION ARRIVED IN EUROPE
WHICH WOULD CHANGE ALL THAT:
[explosion]
THE GUN.
THE FIRST GUNS IN EUROPE LOOKED
LIKE THIS AND WERE THIS SIZE.
D THIS, IN FACT, IS A REPLICA
OF THE LOSHULT GUN, THE EARLIEST
ARCHEOLOGICALLY EXCAVATED GUN
IN EUROPE.
IT MAY NOT LOOK MUCH, BUT THIS
LITTLE GUN WAS A TURNING POINT
IN MEDIEVAL WARFARE.
WEAPONS EXPERT JENS
CHRISTIANSEN IS HELPING ME LOAD.
WHAT'S SURPRISING ABOUT THE
FIRST GUN IS, IT DIDN'T SHOOT
A CANNON BALL.
THE FIRST AMMUNITION THAT WAS
USED WAS THIS, AN ARROW.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S
NOT REALLY THAT SURPRISING,
BECAUSE IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A
CANNON BALL, WHY WOULD YOU THINK
THAT'S THE FIRST AMMUNITION TO
USE?
AND I USE A MALLET TO...
[hammering]
MAKE SURE THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
[militaristic music] ♪ ♪
MEDIEVAL GUNNERS WERE CONSIDERED UNCHIVALROUS, AND THEY WERE
THREATENED THAT IF CAPTURED,
THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR HANDS CUT
OFF AND THEIR EYES PLUCKED OUT.
OKAY, I'M GONNA GO AND LIGHT IT.
[explosion]
>> RIGHT ON TARGET. >> WE GOT A SHOT.
THE ARROW HAS BROKEN SOMEWHERE.
IT'S--THE FORCE OF HITTING THAT
HAS SHATTERED THIS OFF.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST RECORDS OF
GUNS BEING USED ON THE
BATTLEFIELD IN EUROPE WAS WHEN
THE ENGLISH BROUGHT THEM TO BEAR
ON FRENCH FORCES AT THE BATTLE
OF CRECY IN 1346.
THE THUNDEROUS EXPLOSION, THE
SULFUROUS SMELL, THE SPITTING
FLAME STRUCK TERROR INTO THE
ENEMY.
[explosions]
A CHRONICLER OF THE TIME WROTE, "THEY MADE A NOISE LIKE THUNDER
AND CAUSED MUCH LOSS IN MEN AND
HORSES."
EVERY HISTORICAL PERIOD COMES UP WITH IDEAS THAT LAST AND IDEAS
THAT FADE.
FROM THE START, THE GUN WAS
DESTINED FOR SUCCESS.
WITHIN 50 YEARS OF THE FIRST
PRIMITIVE GUNS, MEDIEVAL
ARMORERS WERE BUILDING WEAPONS
THAT LOOK VERY LIKE THE CANNON
WE KNOW TODAY.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WAS THEY
GOT RID OF THE ARROW AND WENT TO
THE CANNON BALL.
FIRST CANNON BALLS WERE STONE
LIKE THIS.
THEY WERE CHIPPED AWAY BY
MASONS 'CAUSE WE HADN'T
DISCOVERED CAST IRON.
EUROPEANS DIDN'T DISCOVER CAST
IRON UNTIL LATE IN THE 15TH
CENTURY.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED
WAS THEY WENT TO LONGER BARRELS.
BUT HOW DO THEY MAKE A LONG IRON
BARREL LIKE THAT WITHOUT BEING
ABLE TO MAKE CAST IRON?
THE ANSWER WAS USING THE
TECHNOLOGY OF A BARREL.
YOU SEE THESE STAVES IN THE
BARREL, THE WOODEN STRIPS THAT
ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY THESE
HOOPS?
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
UNDERNEATH THESE RINGS ARE
STAVES OF IRON BUTTED TOGETHER
LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE FORMED AROUND A WOODEN
CORE.
AND THEN THESE RINGS WITH THEIR
LONG FLANGES ARE HAMMERED OVER,
WOODEN CORE'S BURNED OUT, AND
YOU'VE GOT THE BARREL OF A GUN.
IT'S CALLED A BARREL 'CAUSE IT'S
THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AS A BARREL.
[clanging]
THAT THING THAT LOOKS LIKE A
BEER TANKARD IS CALLED A BREACH
POT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CANNONBALL
GOES IN HERE.
THE POWDER GOES IN THE BREACH
POT.
HE WILL THEN PUT THE AIR SEAL OF
THAT BY PUTTING IN A WOODEN
TAMPION.
THAT'S GONNA PUSH THE BALL UP
THE BARREL.
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
[explosion]
THAT'S DONE.
KNOCK OUT THE BREACH.
THAT'S NOW READY TO SHOOT AGAIN.
WHILE JENS IS LOADING, MY
JOB IS TO SWAB THIS.
A WET SWAB.
THERE MAY BE SPARKS IN HERE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT LIVE
POWDER IN THERE UNTIL THOSE
SPARKS ARE KILLED.
THAT ONE'S READY FOR LOADING.
[blowing]
FIRE IN THE HOLE.
[explosion]
SO THERE THEY GO, BANG!
[explosion]
AFTER BANG...
[explosion]
AFTER BANG.
[explosion]
THE AGE OF ARTILLERY HAD
ARRIVED.
[explosion]
THE ARRIVAL OF THE GUN WAS ONE OF THE SIGNALS THAT THE MEDIEVAL
PERIOD WAS PASSING.
IT CHANGED THE COURSE OF
WARFARE AND CIVILIZATION
FOR ALL TIME.
GOING MEDIEVAL HAS BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.
I'VE HELPED BUILD AND ATCK
MEDIEVAL CASTLES, I'VE PLOWED
WITH OXEN, AND TASTED MEDIEVAL
FOOD.
I'VE HUNTED WITH HOUNDS AND
FOUGHT WITH SWORDS.
I'VE TRAVELLED ON SHIPS AND
HORSES, AND I'VE SEEN A GREAT,
GAUDY SLICE OF MEDIEVAL LIFE.
[tense music] ♪ ♪
MEDIEVAL FOLK DIDN'T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS YE OLDIE OR
PRIMITIVE OR PEOPLE THAT DRESSED
UP IN FUNNY CLOTHES.
THEY CONSIDERED THEMSELVES
MODERN.
THEY USED THE LATEST
TECHNOLOGIES, AND THEY WORE THE
FINEST FASHIONS.
PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AGES WERE
MUCH MORE LIKE US THAN THEY WERE
DIFFERENT FROM US.
IN FACT, THE TRUTH IS THEY WERE
US.
AND FOR ME, THE REAL THRILL AND
ENCHANTMENT OF HISTORY IS IN
CONNECTING WITH THE PHYSICAL
EXPERIENCE OF THE WORLD THEY
LIVED IN.
AND GOG MEDIEVAL HAS HELPED ME
ENTER THAT WORLD AND SHARE
A LITTLE OF THEIR LIVES.
[upbeat music] ♪ ♪
♪ ♪