Hello Guys! I wanted to introduce you to the addictive way of learning Western History which is Horrible Histories! I have loved this show and have started to watch it just recently. But I tell you, it's kinda addictive especially if you're a girl like me who has an interest in history and wants a new and fun way of learning it. So check it out!~

Horrible Histories is an award-winning British children's television series which tells history, specifically Western History, in a fun way. What I mean by fun is that you will really enjoy it. The enact scenes, sing songs about historical events, make it so that the children would not forget the historical figures and events that easily. It was begun its broadcast in BBC One from 2009 and is still filming for Series 5 last September 2012.

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Now my first impression about this is that it's a fun way to learn. When I was in class listening to the lesson about Europe's historical figures, I didn't attain interest about them. That was because I was studying about the historical figures as real people. Well that is true of course and I might not be making sense about what I'm saying.

What I meant to say is, for imaginative people like me, Horrible Histories is a good way of learning about history. I disclaim: Not all people. I'm just pertaining to people like me. Instead of having interest on the historical figures by setting in mind them as boring people who affected the current world, I think (am using personal experience for this) that Horrible Histories helps you study by making you feel that the historical figures are amusing characters. Now as mentioned above, it depends on the audience. However, it cannot be denied that children or students or anime/cartoon fans have learned history through media and entertainment. Let's take the anime Axis Powers Hetalia as an example. Sure there are a lot of inaccuracies. I mean, countries do not act that way to each other like those personified countries do. But hey, Hetalia fans got a better grasp of world history because of that anime. Another example are RPGs or Role-playing games which has something to do with history, such as the game "Assassin's Creed". That game is historical enough to make you learn a bit of something because you like the game. My point is people learn more when they are interested. And it could not be doubted that songs and hilarious skits do catch the attention.

As mentioned above, Horrible Histories have songs and funny skits of various type. My first encounter with Horrible Histories is because of my report on the Greek philosophers (to be specific, I was searching about Socrates in YouTube Academy). I came across a song which is called "The Thinkers" which is a pretty fun song (I will post it below). After that, I clicked on the related videos only to find out that there are a lot more songs like "The Thinkers". Now my first impression is that it's really catchy. The song will really hit you. You might even wanna put it in your phone or memorize the lyrics. In addition, it does not only have catchy songs but also hilarious skits. These skits are in various forms to avoid getting a boring feeling. Horrible Histories skits ranges from re-enactment, weather report, stupid deaths, product commercials, what happens if these historical dudes are in our time, and many more.

I tell you. You should check it out or at least watch the videos below. ^-^

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Accuracy

Now every critical and interested person should have a question in mind. How accurate is this? Of course since Horrible Histories is a children's show you would have to expect "untrue" things which purposes on making children laugh. It's entertainment anyway. A little laughter can't hurt. Besides, we all know that historical events can't be this funny XD

Horrible Histories is essentially "history acting itself out". All the facts have to pass through a historical consultant who makes sure that they keep the historical pasts accurate. Greg Jenner, one of the historical consultant, for example, describes himself as "tyrannical pendant" because he is very strict on what should be in the sketch. This is because Horrible Histories is an educational show even though it is also a comedy and children's show. The viewers, knowing that what they are watching is historical, put their trust upon what they are watching that the producers have presented accurate informations on T.V. This is why historical consultants check that the team aren't just putting "nonsense" in the show.

Jenner also said that "most historians I know are absolutely obsessed with the show", because it "promotes their area". So that can be a sufficient proof that Horrible Histories is an accurate-enough educational show which we can learn what we assume to be true while having fun.

Also, it cannot be denied that the show have made mistakes over the years. It was counted that the show had eight major mistakes over four years. But the good thing is that Horrible Histories correct their mistake with another skit. They don't just leave you misinformed. So upon telling you this, I can conclude that for me, Historical Histories is accurate enough for an educational show.

Casts

I just felt putting a segment about this because I really really love the Historical Histories casts. They are awesome!!!! So, here are the awesome historical figures players~

Jim Howick

JIM HOWICK

Lord Nelson, George IV of the United Kingdom, Alfred Nobel, Henry II of England, Richard III of England, Blackbeard, Nero, William Hare, Edmund II, Robert II of Artois, Shouty Man (spoof of Barry Scott of the Cillit Bang adverts), Winston Churchill, William Buckland, Matthew Webb, Samuel Pepys, Napoleon I, Archimedes, spoof of Gregg Wallace in Historical Masterchef, Douglas Bader, Plato, King Canute, Prince Albert, Martin Luther, Sir Peter Lely, Hannibal, James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, Trevor Geek, Bobby Leach, Pope Alexander VI, John, King of England, John Flamsteed, Pope Clement VII, Sir Thomas Heneage, Robert Cocking, Molière,Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden, spoof of Alan Sugar in Historical Apprentice, Leofwine Godwinson

Mathew Baynton

MATHEW BAYNTON

Charles II of England, Dick Turpin, George II of Great Britain, Pachacuti, Henry I of England, Mark Antony, Zeus, Caligula (series 2), Black Bart, Jack Sheppard, Robert Knox, Francis I of France, Menelaus, Pompey, Guy Fawkes, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Vercingetorix, Elagabalus, D.I. Bones, Ethelred the Unready, Will Sommers,William Shakespeare, Philip II of Spain, Charles I of England, Captain Robert Scott, Thomas Farriner, Leonidas I, Aristotle, Dick Whittington, spoof of Gok Wan inHistorical Fashion Fix, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (only at The Proms), Hephaestion, Dr Montague Fuzzlepeck, Charles Darwin, Walter Raleigh (series 4), Count Emicho, Pausanias, Leonardo da Vinci, John Stubbs, Christopher Columbus, Peter III of Russia, Diodorus the Roman, James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran, James VI of Scotland and I of England, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, Richard I of England, Fagin, Cesare Borgia, Alfred the Great, James II of Scotland, Walter Tirel, Histiaeus,Sigurd the Mighty

Simon Farnaby

SIMON FARNABY

Grim Reaper, William the Conqueror, Caligula (series 1 and 3), George III of England (series 1 and at The Proms), William Burke, Hippocrates, Mercury, Robert Walpole, Walter Raleigh, PR agent Cliff Whiteley (spoof of Max Clifford), Executioner, Tiberius, William Harvey, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, William Davison,FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, Early Man from The Early Show, Scorpus, Israel Hands, Jocelin of Wells, Francis Tresham (online content), Thomas Blood

Martha Howe-Douglas

MARTHA HOWE-DOUGLAS

Elizabeth I of England, Cleopatra, Boudicca, Victoria of Great Britain (series 2 onwards), Florence Nightingale, Pet shop owner, Emmeline Pankhurst, Madame Tussaud, Caroline of Brunswick, Sam, the anchorwoman from HHTV News, Matilda of Flanders, Rhea, Suzanne from Historical Hairdressers, Lisa del Giocondo,Hannah Twynnoy, Pearl Hart, Early Woman from The Early Show, Mary, Queen of Scots, spoof of Karren Brady in Historical Apprentice, Lucrezia Borgia, Vannozza dei Cattanei, Sofie Hess, Roland of Rotchester's assistant on Historical Masterchef

Ben Willbond

BEN WILLBOND

Henry VIII of England, George I of Great Britain, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Kronos, Billy the Kid, Louis XVI of France, Paris of Troy, Commodus, Aeschylus,William Wallace, John Balliol, Sweyn Forkbeard, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Francis Bacon, Adolf Hitler, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, Clement Vallandingham, Robert Catesby, Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet, Mike Peabody, Sir Francis Drake, judge of the "Court of Historical Law", Francisco Pizarro, Ludwig Van Beethoven (only at The Proms), Socrates, George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan, John Snow, Robert III of Scotland,Giovanni Borgia, Edward III of England, Pythagoras, spoof of John Humphrys in Historical Mastermind, Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, Griffith ap Llewelyn,Pierre de Coubertin, Aristagoras, spoof of John Torode in Historical Masterchef, Gyrth Godwinson

Sarah Hadland

Sarah Hadland

Victoria of Great Britain (series 1), Florence Nightingale, Helen of Troy, Hatshepsut, Minerva, presenter of Ready, Steady, Feast (series 1), Nurse "Sir" Anne Saunders, Cavegirl, Nefertiti, Nell Gwyn, Mandy the dental assistant (series 4), Mary I of England (series 4) Reporter of "Behind the throne" ( Series 4),"Old Crone"

Laurence Rickard

LAURENCE RICHKARD

Bob Hale (spoof of Peter Snow), John Joseph Merlin, William II of England, Paul Revere, Draco, Pepi II, Henry V of England, Deiphobus, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, John Wright, Arthur Aston, Olaf Tryggvason, cowboy Mike, Diogenes, Thomas Cromwell, William Mullins, Victorian pauper, Captain Louis Nolan, Leif Ericson, Geoff from The Early Show, Nicholas Culpeper, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Pheidippides, Richard the Raker, Thomas Cromwell

Dominique Moore

DOMINIQUE MOORE

Mary Seacole, Agent Moses (based on Harriet Tubman), presenter of Ready, Steady, Feast (series 2), Ferne Polyester (spoof of Fearne Cotton), Nurse, Andrea, Karen

Lawry Lewin

LAWRY LEWIN

George III of Great Britain, Oliver Cromwell, Thomas More, Francis Tresham (series 2), Duc de Chaulnes, French revolutionary, William Prynne, Spiculus, Roland the Farter, Ned Low, spoof of Brian Cox in Wonders of the Egyptian/Viking Universe, spoof of Nick Hewer in Historical Apprentice, Henry Cole, Martin Smith, Galen,James Hind

Alice Lowe

ALICE LOWE

Lady Jane Grey, Emily Davison, Marie Antoinette, Joan of Arc, Mary I of England (series 3), Henrietta Maria of France, Jessica Harvey-Smythe, Poppea, Calpurnia Pisonis, Cliff Whiteley's receptionist