One of my favourite ways to procrastinate is watching YouTube channels, usually on the subjects of history, fantasy, or videogames. When I have time to kill, or sandwiches to vanquish, I normally have a video on, reminding me of past events or teaching me about new ones. Here are a few that I like, which may be of interest to you:
Flash Point History
This is far and away the newest one (to me) on my list as I only discovered it today, and have already watched the first three parts of the Reconquista. In addition to many videos (including subjects such as the Eastern Roman Empire and Spain), there are also podcasts so if you prefer audio to visual then this is just the ticket.
https://www.youtube.com/@FlashPointHx
Serapeum
The second newest to me is a history channel largely focused on the Western and Eastern Roman Empire. Serapeum also has videos on Alexander his Successors/Diadochi, so if Eastern European and Near Eastern history is your cup of tea this might be right up your street. The Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire can be a shade neglected relative to its Western counterpart, so this is also a very good channel for bridging that gap.
https://www.youtube.com/@Serapeum
History Marche
One that I’ve watched for a long time is more focused on the military side of things, and covers everything from the Punic Wars to medieval battles and clashes in India and Japan. While most things are in Europe this does offer a great degree of breadth, and the time frame ranges from the ancient world to the 20th century (although most videos are earlier than this). Fans of warfare and battle maps will probably like this a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryMarche/videos
Modern History TV
This is a bit different as all the others are effectively maps of political/military events with voiceover. Modern History TV is fronted by Jason Kingsley and covers practical history, learning by doing in many cases. Weirdly, two of the most interesting videos I found on the channel included waxed linen (effectively medieval cling film) and rush lights (cheaper than candles). There’s also plenty on swords, riding, and little things that can only be learnt in a practical way, such as wagons have their own unique melody of creaks, or how the shape of a mule’s back makes riding it a little different to riding a horse.
https://www.youtube.com/@ModernKnight
Anyway, these are some of the channels I’ve found most interesting to watch, so perhaps they’ll be entertaining for you as well.
Thaddeus
