The Polynesian Islands Part 1

Today we are going to start our look at the the story of pre European Polynesia.  There are two videoa this week,  The first is a 30 minute documentary which is a rather breathless timeline looking at where the Polynesian people came from.   The second is a 45 minute National Geographic documentary looking at the spread of the Polynesian people across the Pacific.

The Austronesians

The Lost World of The Pacific

Further Reading

Polynesia - Wikipedia
Polynesians - Wikipedia

Reconquista - The story of the Christian Reconquest of Spain Part 2

Part 2 of the Reconquista  looks at what happened in the 13th century in Spain not only between the Christian states and the Moors but also the changing dynamics of relationships between the the various Christian Monarchs and the ambitions of one Monarch to be appointed as Holy Roman Empire.

Reconquista -The Next Generation

Further Reading

Holy Roman Empire - Wikipedia

Reconquista - The story of the Christian Reconquest of Spain

Following our look of the emergence and spread of Islam, we will be looking at the Christian  reconquest of the Iberian peninsula which culminated in the expulsion of the Moors in the 15th Century.  There are two episodes which are both quite a bit longer than the previous episodes.

Reconquista - The Full History

Further Reading

The History of The Iberian - Peninsula -Wikipedia
Reconquista - Wikipedia
Reconquista - Heritage History

The History of Islam Part 3

This week we follow the spread of Islam through North Africa and the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate of Cordoba which lasted from the 8th Century until the 15th Century.  This is a relatively short video which finishes rather abruptly.

The Moors of Andulasia

Further Reading
Al Andalus - Wikipedia
How 700 years of Muslim rule in Spain came to an end - The Conversation
Islam in Spain