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How much do you know about life in Europe in the Middle Ages? Was life really as brutal and people as unsophisticated as you've been led to believe? Find out in the UK premiere of Medieval Fightbook on Sunday 14 August at 8pm.

The book was written in 1459, and could fundamentally change your ideas about medieval life.

Written in an ancient German dialect by a fight master known only as Talhoffer, and accompanied by detailed colour pictures, the book depicts in astonishing detail styles of combat which were previously unknown.

It reveals how disputes between individuals were often resolved by vicious duels, describes how even spiked shields were used as a primary weapon and that this style of combat wasn't exclusive to men!

Talhoffer did not stop at one-to-one combat: he also drew complex diagrams of siege engines and other war machines, as well as diving suits.

But could these really have existed in the Middle Ages?  Find out as the experts use historical re-enactments and analysis to recreate some of the techniques and devices depicted by the fight master over 500 years ago.