Sex and Alcohol in the Middle Ages | Full Series with Eleanor Janega

What Was Sex, Booze and Sport Like in the Middle Ages? Join Eleanor Janega in this 3-Part series as she explores the world of Medieval Pleasures! In episode one, Eleanor and Dr Kate Lister take to the streets of York to uncover the sex lives of folks living here over 500 years ago. Armed with Medieval chat-up lines they attempt to woo a suitor while revealing the hidden ribald meanings behind some common words and phrases, giving an insight into the diverse, bold and unabashed sexual appetites of Medieval people and the role the church had in controlling the sex lives of worshippers. And at the Tower of London Eleanor explores courtly love and how the royal bedchamber was a very crowded place, particularly when a regal marriage was consummated. She also investigates the complicated rules governing the sex trade in the capital, where almost anything goes as long as it happens in the approved red light district. In episode two, Eleanor explores the world of medieval booze! Alcohol was an essential part of medieval life. In one of London’s oldest pubs, Ye Old Mitre, Eleanor discovers the origins of the humble pub with beer expert Pete Brown, and dispels the many myths surrounding the drinking habits of the people who drank here centuries ago We then stumble over to London’s East End, where Wild Card Brewery’s head brewer Jaega Wise has crafted a special tipple using the same ingredients and techniques the average medieval brewer would have had at their disposal. Does it taste as good today as it did 500 years ago? Our ancient pub crawl ends in King Henry VIII’s vast wine cellar with Hampton Court’s Historic Kitchen Manager, Richard Fitch. We learn about the royals' unquenchable drinking habits, fanciful wine fountains and how important booze was for demonstrating wealth to your enemies. In episode three, Eleanor ventures into the Royal Armouries tiltyard, where seasoned jouster Andy Deane, and his opponent Andrew Balmforth, face off in an adrenaline fuelled jousting tournament - and you're invited! We discover the harsh realities of this sport that's synonymous with the Middle Ages, and learn about its close ties to the art of combat and warfare. Our knights run a gauntlet of tests demonstrating the skill and precision needed to smash lances, spear boars and possibly secure a lucrative deal for your kingdom. And it wasn't just the knights that got in on the action, Eleanor joins the Crossbow Guild and explores how it was not only practical, but would have given people from the humbler classes a chance to tour the country, show off their skills and earn some extra coin along the way. Then, it's the thrill of the chase that gets Eleanor's heart fluttering, as Falconry Expert Emma Rapheal introduces us to this time honoured tradition and discusses how hunting parties weren't just for putting food on the table; but a popular sport that both a lady and a knight could enjoy. Lastly, we find the royal court is not too far from the tennis court, when Eleanor takes on Hampton Court Palace's on-site professional, Nick Wood, at Real Tennis and finds out how to handcraft a Tudor-style ball. It turns out that tennis is actually an example of an unruly street game that was adopted and adored by medieval royals and nobility. You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! 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. Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwU2G-KVl-P-O-B35chZOQ/join #medievalsex #middleages #medievalhistory 00:00:00 Medieval Sex 00:33:32 Medieval Booze 01:07:30 Medieval Sport