1500s York- The Medieval Megacity Where 50% of Life Was Survival

In this history documentary, we strip away the romanticized "Merry Old England" myth to reveal what daily life was actually like in 16th-century York. From the claustrophobic, sunless tunnels of the Shambles to the open sewers running through the cobblestone streets, surviving in this walled Tudor city was not for the faint of heart.

But the dirt was only the beginning. You'll discover how York's fierce devotion to its Catholic roots put it on a deadly collision course with the most dangerous King in English history, leading to the devastating Pilgrimage of Grace uprising. We break down the brutal crackdowns, the terrifying executions of figures like Robert Aske and Margaret Clitherow, and how the city was forever changed by the Crown.

In this video, we cover:

Tudor Infrastructure: The genius (and squalor) of jettied houses and the crowded Ouse Bridge.

The Pilgrimage of Grace: How an army of 30,000 rebels turned York into a fortress against London.

The End of an Era: The suppression of the famous Mystery Plays and the rise of a secret, underground rebellion.

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