Ref: R08109
Knights - Castles & Sieges

Knights
The romantic image of a knight is of a hero in shining armour rescuing a damsel in distress. The historical view of knights is of heavily armoured cavalrymen fighting for their lords in battle. But neither of these images is really true. The idea of knighthood came from ancient roots and the value system associated with it has come to be firmly embedded in the fabric of European society. This film explores the origins and development of knighthood from its beginnings in ancient warbands, through its medieval heyday to its enduring legacy to the western world. Myth and reality mingle in this story of real men struggling to live up to the ideals of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Castles & Sieges
One of man's primal instincts is to protect where he lives. We have been fortifying settlements, villages, towns and cities for thousands of years - long before the time of the medieval castle. Throughout history, great engineers, architects and designers have tried to devise the most impenetrable defences. Do you build up into the air or down into the ground, how thick should the walls be, which direction will the threat come from? Ingenious methods have been used to outwit attackers who attempt to besiege a castle or fortification and, of course, the age of gunpowder required even more sophisticated methods of defence. Even our modern engineering and design skills have yielded no more effective solutions than those of our ancestors. 


Price: £5.99