Modern History TV

What did a knight do when he wasn't in combat? What did he wear when he wasn't in his armour? What leisure pursuits did he enjoy? Jason explores the lesser seen aspects of the knight's downtime and his legacy, from the role of a coat of arms both on and off the battlefield, to the ultimate transition into the knights and dames of modern times.

Jason explores the social strata of medieval Britain via the food a knight might have experienced on his travels. From a stop at a roadside inn to an invitation to dine at the King's table, food historian Chris Carr takes Jason through a culinary journey, exploring the food available to people of differing means, the role of spices in society, and the medieval view of physical health.

How did a knight react when his liege lord called him to war? What preparations needed to be made, how did he travel to battlefields in distant lands and what did he face when he arrived?

The knight's armour evolved along with the weapons that were being used against him. In this episode, Jason breaks down the types of armour that developed during the medieval period, and shows how much a knight's movement was - or wasn't - impeded by full plate harness.

The archetypal knight wears shining armour and wields a sword but in reality he would have had access to a wide range of weaponry far more suitable for fighting opponents in full plate harness. How were these weapons used on foot and from horseback, and what damage could they do?

How much of what we see and hear about medieval knights on TV and in film is accurate? Reading history books can only tell us so much.