What's Best For The Poor?

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Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham discuss poverty.

Dramatic reconstruction of a discussion on answers to poverty in medieval Britain; Robin Hood suggests the use of charity to feed the poor which would lead to improved spending power by the poor, therefore increasing markets while the Sheriff of Nottingham thinks the best answer is to increase hunger amongst the poor, increasing the motivation to work.
From: Robin Hood Will You Tolerate Us
First Broadcast : 07 October 2006

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 16+

Subject : History, Religious Education

Topic : Medieval world, Attitudes to wealth, Meaning and purpose of life

Keywords : Why should we help others? Charity, Poverty, Attitudes to poverty, Poverty in the Middle Ages, Feudalism

Notes : Historical reconstruction - what does it teach on attitudes to poverty in medieval Britain? Use this clip to ask questions about the responsible attitudes to wealth and those in need. Which solution would be used today? Recall, describe and explain the beliefs teachings and practices of Christianity, Hinduism and Islam about giving money to help the poor. Make and investigate the links between the beliefs, teachings and practices studied. Explore traditions on help for the poor in different religions. History topics - Medieval world, Poverty in the Middle Ages. Investigate the feudal structure of medieval life.

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