Simon Schama's History Epic

This is the first of a series of 6 DVD's
Full DVD with subtitles.
If this DVD proves popular I'll upload the other 5.

Episode 1 Beginnings

This prelude to the series covers the 4,000 years that precede the Battle of Hastings. 
Ancient Briton was a thriving region. The Romans considered the region one of wealth and prestige, and many of the British chieftains were quick to adopt Roman ways and accept their rule; the province was defined with the building of Hadrian's Wall. 

When the Romans departed 400 years later, they left a dream of unity; Alfred accepted the challenge of forging a kingdom and repelling the Vikings from a kingdom, a kingdom eventually shattered by the Normans.


Episode 2 Conquest!

In the nine hours which it took to fight the Battle of Hastings, everything changed. Anglo-Saxon England became Norman and its fate was decided. 
Harold was quashing his brother Tostig's forces when the French threat arrived. He had to race 187 miles south and drag his exhausted army down Senlac Hill to face attack from William's cavalry and archers.

On Christmas Day 1066, William became King of England, England became part of an Anglo-Norman Empire and the Domesday Book was commissioned; William thus became 'the first database king'. 


Episode 3 Dynasty

In the years that followed 1066, the Angevin dynasty overcame, Schama says, 'the legacy of the Conquest: chaos, carnage, famine and extortion'. 
At its heart was Henry II, who laid the foundations for the systems of laws and civil service that we live under today, although he is best remembered for ordering the murder of Thomas Becket, Britain's most powerful martyr.

Of Henry's four sons, two came to the throne. Richard the Lionheart, who declared war on his father and was arrested on crusade, and John, whose failure encouraged his Barons to publish the Magna Carta.