The Unsurprisingly Deadly Job Of A Medieval Sailor | Worst Jobs

*We apologize for any sections with uneven audio levels, we are aware of the issue.* This week we take a close look at the worst rural jobs and remember those who risked their necks to maintain the heart of rural life, shifted excrement to produce enduring images of the countryside and saved souls in the villages by eating bread. Tony experiences life as a shepherd boy, nettle harvester, reddle man, thresher, chaff-box boy, sedge cutter, sin eater, pole man, lead-white maker and featherier. Then he tackles the most arduous job of all, that of the steeplejack when he climbs the highest spire in Oxfordshire.

*We apologize for any sections with uneven audio levels, we are aware of the issue.* You'd suspect that working in a royal palace wood have been preferable to working in the fields. But these royal jobs are among the worst in history. Life was gruelling for those who found themselves working as a lance maker, falcon-keeper, whipping boy, food taster, groom of the chamber, royal messenger, royal washerwoman, fireworker, boot boy, and the dreaded purple maker.

Ancient Rome, perhaps more than any other ancient city, dominated the ancient Mediterranean. But what is the history of this city and what was it like to live there? Odyssey is your journey into the world of Ancient History; from the dawn of Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. We'll be bringing you only the best documentaries that journey into the mysteries and ruins of worlds long lost.

Jack London was the most famous American writer of the twentieth century, but he didn't always have an easy time of it. This symbol of adventure was at different times a vagabond, gold prospector, sailor, farmer, war reporter and socialist militant. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits!

From the Norman invasion in 1066 to the end of the Wars of the Roses in 1485, Medieval England transformed from an agricultural feudal society to one on the brink of creating an empire. The feudal system under William the Conqueror emphasized that all land was the crown's property, and peasants worked on their lord's land for rent. The Manor Court addressed agricultural disputes and enforced the lord's rights, with a bailiff overseeing it. Medieval England had village settlements in forests, with Forest Law infamous for harsh punishments for deer hunting. Life was challenging for peasants with seasonal food scarcity, and education and social status were evolving during this period.

Life in the Medieval period looked like lots of different things to lots of different people. Your place in society could dictate everything. From what food you ate, where you could go, how educated you were and even how long you were likely to live for. Across this series, discover what life was like for those that worked, those that earned, those that learned and those that played in Medieval England. Presented by medieval historian, Dr Eleanor Janega. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 📺 You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.