Season 1
6 episodes
28 min. per episode
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A daring historian experiences humanity's grimiest jobs, uncovering resilience and humor in the darkest corners of history.
Episodes
Some of the worst jobs of the Dark Ages in Britain were mining gold for the Romans, plowing fields with a wooden plow and other difficult and disgusting jobs of the period.
Among the worst jobs of the Middle Ages (up to 1500) during the age of chivalry were Arming squire serving a Knight, dishing out medieval medical cures, being a hamster to make a cathedral, and walking in urine to support the economy.
Among the worst jobs of Tudor times (1485-1603) The Headsman, Groom of the Stool, Gong scourer, Boy actor, Pin maker, woad dyers that must always be 5 miles distant from Queen Elizabeth Ist, fishwives and workplace discipline.
Among the worst jobs of the Stuart Age (1603-1714) are saltpeter man, sedan bearer, wig maker, Nit picker, household fumigator, Seeker or searcher of the dead, Plague buryer, Toad swallower, Cathedral dome painter and Violin maker who had to gather their own raw ingredients.
Among the worst jobs of the Georgian Age (1714-1837): Artists model, Customs Riding officer, Garden ornament, bath attendant, Castrato singers, Loblolli, boy monkey, mill scavenger, going thru the mill to put shirts on the country's backs.
Tony Robinson visits various periods in history, literally getting involved in the worst jobs our ancestors had to endure.