Fight Club: A History of Violence

1 season available

A close look at four ages of organized fighting - Victorian, Georgian, Elizabethan, and Tudor - reveals the surprising variety of uses to which the activity has been put.
The Sport of Blood
S1 E1

More than two centuries ago, England's toughest women squared off in the streets of London for no-holds-barred bloodsport. Explore their story here.

Victorian Prize Fighters
S1 E2

The British embrace of violence during the Victorian era was easily seen in the regard held for bare-knuckle boxers. Skilled fighters were handsomely rewarded, while losers faced bleak futures.

Georgian Duellists
S1 E3

Both sides of the class divide, in Georgian Britain, found in duels not only a novel distraction but a tidy way of settling disputes.

Tudor Fight Club
S1 E4

Jousting brought rewards for the victors, but failure often meant the defeated party lost land or reputation.