Curated Video
The Power of Anglo-Saxon Words: Exploring English Without Borrowings
In this video, the host explores the concept of "Anglish," a version of the English language stripped of foreign borrowings from Latin, French, and Greek. He discusses the history of English and how the influx of foreign words has shaped...
Curated Video
Exploring the Origins of the Months
In this video, we explore the origins of the names of the months and their meanings. From January, named after the Roman God Janice, to December, known as after Yule or after a yaola in Old English, we uncover the fascinating history...
Curated Video
The Viking Influence on the English Language
In this video, the speaker explores the impact of the Vikings on the English language. From the words they left behind to the influence on pronouns, verbs, and place names, the Vikings played a significant role in shaping the English...
60 Second Histories
Saxon farming - part 1
Part one of the farming series describes a thegn and explains his position within the Saxon community. He explains how ceorls and slaves help farm his land and talks about the food they grow and animals they keep.
60 Second Histories
Saxon village life - part 1
A Saxon woman explains what the chieftain's house was like and the compound and buildings around it. She also describes a poorer house and explains why they kept their animals inside their houses
60 Second Histories
Norman cathedrals & monasteries
Discover how the Normans settled the land by building churches and monasteries and explains how the locals paid rent to the church which in turn paid taxes to the king.
60 Second Histories
Why did the Normans invade England?
This video covers the cause of the Norman invasion in 1066. Despite King Edward making, William Duke of Normandy heir to the English throne, Harold Godwinson stole the crown.
60 Second Histories
Saxon law, crime & punishment
A Saxon thegn describes a gemot, witan, the dooms and a Hundred Court together with some of the punishments handed out to those found guilty.
60 Second Histories
Saxon village life - part 2
A Saxon woman describes a typical village house and explores what people drank, ate and how they cooked. It also includes where they went to the toilet.
60 Second Histories
Battle of Hastings - Norman view part 2
Part two describes how, during the battle, William Duke of Normandy had fallen and the effect it had on morale.
60 Second Histories
Anglo Saxon place names
This video looks at place names and their Saxon origins, like the word 'bury' meaning fortified place which lends its name to Banbury, Shaftsbury, Salisbury. It also covers some county name origins like Essex coming from the East Saxons.
60 Second Histories
What is a Motte & Bailey Castle?
This video covers the early Norman castles, how the motte and bailey was constructed and mentions some of the first stone castles like Chepstow and Pevensey.
60 Second Histories
The Norman invasion & preparation
A Norman sailor describes the lead up to the invasion from the Norman perspective; the ships, the supplies and the crossing to England
60 Second Histories
Battle of Hastings - Norman view part 1
In part one, a Norman soldier describes the start of the battle of Hastings including a description of Taillefer, the juggler who entertained the Normans before the battle started
60 Second Histories
Anglo Saxon armour & weapons
A thegn warrior, serving King Athestan, describes the armour he wears and his weapons, such as the kite shield and battle axe.
60 Second Histories
Battle of Hastings - Norman view part 3
Part three describes the final part of the Battle of Hastings including the arrow storm that rained down on the Saxons and the fall of King Harold
60 Second Histories
Saxon farming - part 2
Part two of the farming series looks at low ranking ceorls who are not only farmers but tradesmen too and how they use the three-field system of crop rotation. It also explains what bartering is.
60 Second Histories
The Bayeux Tapestry
A Norman soldier describes the Bayeux Tapestry; nearly 70 metres long and having been made in England it depicts the events that led up to the Norman conquest aswell as Battle of Hastings
60 Second Histories
How the Saxons arrived in England
This video describes how the Anglo Saxons originated from Germania and travelled to England with the Roman legions and stayed even after the Romans left.
60 Second Histories
Anglo Saxon - Christianity
A Saxon woman explains how the Saxons changed from worshipping pagan gods to becoming Christian after Pope Gregory sent a monk called Augustine to convert them.
60 Second Histories
Who were the Normans?
This video explains the origins of the Normans and explains their ancestry and how they came to settle in Normandy, i.e. from Norsemen or Vikings
60 Second Histories
Anglo Saxon gods
This video covers some of the Anglo Saxon gods that were worshipped before Christianity arrived and the way their names are still used today.