It is very easy to assume that armour of all periods is designed to work the same... which, broadly speaking, is correct. However, armour is also a product of its time and its style of warfare. Why is it problematic to compare medieval armour to ancient armour?

Michael Scott of Cambridge University uncovers the secrets of the most famous oracle in the ancient world. As a vital force in ancient history for a thousand years, Delphi served as a gateway into the supernatural, a cockpit of political conflict, and a beacon for internationalism. Today, it remains one of Greece's most beautiful tourist sites, inspiring visitors with its legendary history and the famous timeless inscription, "Know Thyself". #delphi #ancientgreece #bbc #oracleofapollo #historydocumentary #ancienthistory #greekmythology #archaeology #worldheritage #knowthyself

In this retrospective BBC interview, renowned historian and broadcaster Michael Wood reflects on the enduring legacy of his landmark documentary series, In Search of the Trojan War, and discusses how subsequent archaeological discoveries have fundamentally validated its core hypotheses [0:1.322, 0:1.323]. Wood details the complex historical and logistical journey of filming across a deeply divided 1980s Europe, sharing vivid memories of traveling through Checkpoint Charlie to study Hittite cuneiform tablets in East Berlin and tracking down surviving oral epic poets near Turkey's Armenian border [0:1.324, 0:1.337, 0:1.350, 0:1.361, 0:1.362]. He evaluates the controversial legacy of Heinrich Schliemann, contextualizes Homer's Iliad as an unflinching meditation on the tragic realities of human conflict, and celebrates recent excavations under Manfred Korfmann that revealed Troy's vast lower town and strategic diplomatic links to the Mycenaean Greek world [0:1.370, 0:1.418, 0:1.427, 0:1.477, 0:1.487].#InSearchOfTheTrojanWar #MichaelWood #BBCInterview #TroyExcavations #HomerIliad #HeinrichSchliemann #AncientHistory #BronzeAgeHistory #Archaeology #HittiteEmpire

This concluding episode of the BBC historical documentary series, presented by Michael Wood, investigates the dramatic collapse of the Late Bronze Age Aegean civilizations and seeks to reconcile archaeological discoveries with the legendary fall of Troy. The narrative tracks how great empires like the Mycenaean Greeks and the Hittites rapidly declined into a Dark Age around 1200 BC, heavily disrupted by mass migrations, agricultural failures, and mysterious invaders known as the Sea Peoples. Wood examines the strategic artifacts from the multi-layered ruins at Hisarlik, carefully contrasting Carl Blegen's shanty-filled Troy 7A with Wilhelm Dörpfeld's fine-walled Troy 6 to construct a fascinating evaluation of whether Homer's legendary epic reflects a true historical sack or a devastating natural earthquake.#InSearchOfTheTrojanWar #TheFallOfTroy #MichaelWood #BBCDocumentary #Archaeology #BronzeAgeCollapse #MycenaeanGreece #HittiteEmpire #HomerIliad #AncientHistory

This fascinating BBC documentary series, presented by Michael Wood, explores the historical reality behind Homer's epic Trojan War by examining the ancient foreign office records of the Hittite Empire. Based on Bronze Age clay tablets discovered in Turkey, the film reconstructs a major diplomatic crisis that linked Greece and the near Eastern superpowers around the 13th century BC. The journey retraces a historical military campaign across Turkey, shedding light on the mysterious kingdom of Ahhiyawa, their control over the city of Miletus, and the intriguing correlation between the Hittite texts' Prince Alexandru and Homer's Paris of Troy. This investigation offers a striking historical backdrop where geopolitical rivalry and military strategy rather than mere romance may have caused the legendary fall of Troy.#trojanwar #hittiteempire #bbcdocumentary #michaelwood #ancienthistory #bronzeage #archaeology #homeriliad #kingagamemnon #ancientgreece

In this episode of the BBC documentary series, presenter Michael Wood investigates the historical reality behind the legend of Helen of Troy and the Trojan War. While myth remembers Helen as the face that launched a thousand ships, ancient palace archives and Linear B tablets reveal a grimmer history of Bronze Age economies relying on the sacking of cities and enslavement of women. The film explores the ruins of Mycenae, Pylos, and Sparta, analyzing archaeological findings and expert theories regarding the economic motives for war and the true nature of the famous Trojan Horse.#BBC #Documentary #TrojanWar #MichaelWood #History #AncientGreece #HelenOfTroy #Archaeology #Mycenae #bronzeage

In this fascinating episode of the acclaimed documentary series presented by Michael Wood, the investigation shifts to the oral traditions that preserved the legend of Troy. While modern archaeologists strive to excavate the ruins of the mythical city, this film explores whether the evidence of a historical Trojan War lies within the structure of Homer's epic poem, The Iliad (0:07). Traveling across Ireland, Turkish Armenia, Gallipoli, and Troy itself, the documentary uncovers the mechanisms of prehistoric storytelling and how generations of unlettered bards passed down authentic Bronze Age memories through word of mouth alone (2:38).#InSearchOfTheTrojanWar #TheSingerOfTales #MichaelWood #Homer #TheIliad #TrojanWar #OralTradition #AncientHistory #BronzeAge

BBC documentary series presented by Michael Wood. Sensational finds in Turkey started the modern search for Homer's Troy. But could the new science of archaeology prove that the famous story was based on real events? Hissarlik continued to give up its secrets, a beautiful city was unearthed with fine towers and great ramparts. Were these the walls on which Helen had stood and watched the heroes die? The excavator Wilhelm Dorpfeld was convinced he'd at last found the real Troy of legend. But in Crete, Sir Arthur Evans was about to make discoveries that would rewrite Aegean history. And where would that leave Homer?#InSearchOfTheTrojanWar #TheLegendUnderSiege #BBCDocumentary #MichaelWood #HomersTroy #AncientHistory

Explore the timeless legend and historical mystery surrounding the Trojan War in this definitive documentary episode produced by the BBC. The narrative investigates the origins of the historic conflict, famously chronicled by the ancient Greek poet Homer centuries after the event allegedly took place. The documentary details the legendary elopement of Prince Paris of Troy and Queen Helen, the massive military mobilization led by King Agamemnon of Mycenae, and a decade of brutal battles resulting in the deaths of mythical heroes Achilles and Hector before culminating in the strategic deception of the infamous wooden horse.#TrojanWar #InSearchOfTheTrojanWar #TheAgeOfHeroes #BBCDocumentary #AncientGreece #Homer #TrojanHorse #GreekMythology #Archaeology #HistoricalMystery

This episode of Tasting History explores the simple culinary habits of Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, who preferred a modest diet of coarse bread, small fishes, figs, and fresh cheese over lavish imperial feasts. Host Max Miller recreates a 2,000-year-old Roman hand-pressed cheese recipe, a fascinating predecessor to modern mozzarella made using whole milk, rennet, and lightly crushed pine nuts. The video also dives into ancient historical accounts of Augustus's personality contradictions, his dining entertainment customs, and his representation in the strategy video game Sid Meier's Civilization VII.#TastingHistory #CivilizationVII #CaesarAugustus #AncientRome #RomanFood #HistoryKitchen #HandmadeCheese #FoodHistory #RomanEmperor #AncientRecipe

Max Miller explores the precarious history of royal food tasters, from ancient Roman officials to modern dictators' staff. Alongside the historical narrative, Miller prepares a medieval-inspired mushroom dish once linked to a suspicious royal death. #tastinghistory #rome

An educational culinary exploration recreating the authentic fermented fish sauce of ancient Rome, known as garum. The episode delves into the history, ancient recipes from early documents, the biological fermentation process using fish and salt under the sun, and a final taste test of the amber-colored liquid.#TastingHistory #Garum #AncientRome #RomanFood #FoodHistory #HistoricalCooking #FermentedFishSauce #CulinaryHistory #AncientRecipes #maxmiller

An exploration of the diverse diet consumed by Roman soldiers stationed along the northern frontier of the empire, specifically around Hadrian's Wall and the Vindolanda fort. While mobile troops relied on basic military field rations like bacon, hardtack, and sour wine, soldiers in permanent forts enjoyed a significantly broader culinary selection. Historical artifacts and writing fragments reveal regular orders for fresh produce, eggs, poultry, local game, and imported luxuries such as olive oil and fish sauce. The episode features a detailed reconstruction of a historic pork and apple dish, showcasing how complex sweet, sour, and aromatic elements were combined in ancient Roman cooking. #tastinghistory #ancientrome #HadriansWall #romanarmy #history #foodhistory #cooking #recipe #archaeology #Vindolanda

Explore the culinary preferences and historic reputation of Attila the Hun, famously known as the scourge of the Roman Empire (0:00). Based on records from a historic feast in 448, this historical cooking feature demonstrates a fifth-century recipe for lamb prepared with a salted wine sauce (0:07). The episode reconstructs ancient dining customs using descriptions from Roman emissaries and contemporary writers, blending culinary recreation with insightful accounts of the hunnic tribes, their military campaigns, and diplomatic encounters (0:46). #tastinghistory #attila #history #cooking #ancientfood #recipe #lamb #romanempire #historicalcuisine #culinaryhistory