Knights Were Basically The Mafia Of Medieval Europe | Planet Money | NPR

There was once a time when there were only occasional federal taxes, no 9-to-5 jobs and farmers markets as far as the eye could see. And then the Black Death came and ruined the whole thing.

This was back in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries, often called the High Middle Ages. And life back then was pretty rough. You were either in the country working for a knight, who was basically a mafia thug, or living in the city under the rules of a guild, who would throw you out of town if they didn't like what you were doing.


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[areamusicale]

it sounds like my life before moving out my parents house.

[leilaan]

This is a great series - I would love it if the Planet Money podcasts were available as a video!

[lindseyw]

Woah planet money is super underrated! Just found this series and I am delightfully binging it now !

[michaelrios]

Please more content like this!!! These are sooo well done!!!

[AudoricArt]

peasant: *starts singing*

[song cut for time]

peasant: *jazz hands*

[SpottedSharks]

I'd be fine with that knight roughing me up a bit.

[ihorMenshykov]

5:00 the money supply explanation seems pretty insane

[Wheau]

Wow, great video! Extremely informative and fascinating. Please make more content like this

[dvr_x]

so... the black death was the great emancipator

[NostalgiaAKA]

The video’s under 10 minutes? There was clearly plenty of time for the musical number. 😂

[gloworm]

This was cute! And informative. I likeeee👍

[DTay-bnro]

Them Old time knights sound like 12 to me 😂🙁🤨

[vedant]

Bullying by scratching his head, cool knights.

[JohnSmith-tdhd]

Please don't add in glaring inaccuracies as park of your wokiness issue.

[ProfDPerry]

So this is filled with falsehoods, filmed at a Renn Faire, and leaves the viewer less informed about the medieval European economy and political structures than when they began. There are thousands of medieval historians who would be happy to talk to you. Why preach fables and lies rather than teach anything like actual history? The stereotypes in this short are at least 50 years out of date, the chronology is wrong, the images are misleading, and I genuinely believe you want to teach people. We'll help you.

[LibertarianRF]

Hmm National propaganda Radio or actually news??

NPR is the absolute last bunch of scumbags i would go to for historical accuracy.