Childhood in pagan Britain transformed by arrival of Christianity [audio 15min]

"Invention of Childhood" is major 30-part narrative history series exploring British childhood and the experience of British children over the last thousand years, with one 15-minute programme each weekday from Mon 25th Sept for 6 weeks. Each programme may be streamed online for 7 days after broadcast. Week One -- 25 to 29 Sep: Children in the Middle Ages: 1000-1500 AD. Episode 1: The Grave and the Cradle. Presenter Michael Morpurgo begins his story at the grave of a pagan child, on the eve of the arrival of Christianity in Britain. How did Christianity and the Norman Invasion affect the lives of British children? The words of the New Testament were often favourable to children, whilst rules about infant baptism (total immersion in the water three times) were less so: priests were told to change the water only if babies defecated, while urinating was fine! Popular children's writer Michael Morpurgo is Britain's former Children's Laureate.