Ep 33. Making Medieval Armor

Making Medieval Armor is the 33rd episode of the 13th season of the popular documentary series, Modern Marvels. In this episode, viewers get an inside look at how the intricately designed and formidable armor of the medieval era was crafted by skilled artisans.

The episode begins with a brief history lesson on the uses of armor in medieval times. Armor was not only worn for protection during battle but also as a status symbol. The armor worn by a knight was a symbol of his honor, power, and wealth.

The show takes us to modern-day Blacksmith shops around the world where the process of creating medieval armor is still practiced. The process starts with designing a blueprint for the armor. Once the design is finalized, the metal plates are cut to the designed shape which can take several days or even weeks.

Next, we see the blacksmiths heating the metal plates and using shaping tools to bend and mold the metal to the desired shape. Creating curved pieces of medieval armor such as helmets was challenging and required a skilled craftsman.

Since making medieval armor required so many pieces, these pieces were attached to each other to form the complete armor. This process known as riveting was demonstrated in detail by the experts in the show.

The episode doesn't only focus on making the armor for the knights but also the chainmail that was worn by soldiers. Since chainmail required a lot of small loops of metal, each hand-made, it was a time-consuming process. We see how the chainmail is made by skilled blacksmiths in detail.

While making the armor, one of the biggest challenges was making it mobile and fit for combat. The show demonstrates how the armor was designed to make the knights feel as mobile as possible despite overwhelmingly heavy armor. The knights would have to prepare themselves practice pressure techniques and train with the armor to become proficient in fighting in the battle.

The documentary also explains the various materials used for creating armor, including iron, steel, bronze, and brass. Each material had its unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, iron armor was easy to produce but heavy, whereas steel armor was lighter and stronger but challenging to work with.

Finally, the show takes us to museums where we see the armor from the medieval era displayed. The armor is not only aesthetically pleasing, but with the right lighting, the fine details on the armor pieces are easily noticeable.

Overall, Making Medieval Armor is an informative and interesting documentary for anyone who is fascinated with how the structures that played a considerable role in shaping history were obtained. From the design process to the materials used, the episode provides viewers with an in-depth look into the creation of these medieval marvels.