Michael Wood (historian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Wood OBE, FSA
Wood in 2013
Born	Michael David Wood (1948-07-23) July 23, 1948 (age 77) Moss Side, Manchester, England
Education	Manchester Grammar School
Alma mater	Oriel College, University of Oxford (B. A.)
Occupation	Historian, broadcaster, documentary filmmaker
Notable work	In Search of the Dark Ages (1979) Great Railway Journeys (1980) In Search of the Trojan War (1985) In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (1998) The Story of India (2007) In Search of Beowulf (2009) The Story of England (2010) The Story of China (2016)

Michael David Wood, born on July 23, 1948, is an English historian and TV presenter. He is famous for hosting many television documentary series since the late 1970s. Wood has also written several books about English history, including In Search of the Dark Ages and The Story of England. In 2013, he became a Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester. Besides English history, Wood's work explores different civilizations like the Greek, Chinese, and Indian cultures.

Michael Wood's Early Life and School Days

Michael Wood was born in Moss Side, Manchester, England. He went to primary schools in Rusholme and Wythenshawe. From his bedroom window in Wythenshawe, he could see the historic Baguley Hall. At Manchester Grammar School, he became very interested in theatre. He even played the main role of Hamlet in Shakespeare's famous play.

While at Manchester Grammar School, Wood once wrote a letter pretending to be King Harold. He was responding to an article by a famous general, Montgomery, who had said the Anglo-Saxons lost in 1066 because they were not very good fighters. Wood's letter explained what he thought really happened. General Montgomery even wrote back to the school, joking that King Harold must be a student there!

Wood later studied History and English at Oriel College, Oxford. He traveled across the United States for six weeks during his final year. After college, he started postgraduate research in Anglo-Saxon history. However, he left his research after three years to become a journalist for ITV.

Michael Wood's Career in History and TV

In the 1970s, Michael Wood worked for the BBC in Manchester. He started as a reporter and then became an assistant producer for news programs. He soon returned to his passion for history with his TV series In Search of the Dark Ages, which aired from 1979 to 1981 on BBC2. His engaging style and deep voice quickly made him popular. His work is also well-known in the United States, often shown on PBS and other TV channels. His series Legacy (1992) is one of his most frequently broadcast documentaries in the US.

Since 1990, Wood has been a director at Maya Vision International, an independent television production company. In 2006, he joined a campaign to help train new Iraqi archaeologists. He has also given lectures on this important topic. In 2013, Wood became a Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester.

Michael Wood's Thoughts and Beliefs

Michael Wood believes that while many empires were built by force, India created an "empire of spirit." He describes India's long history and culture as being able to adapt and change over thousands of years. He says India uses the good parts of its history and accepts its challenges, always remaining uniquely India.

Wood thinks that historical items taken during the time of empires should be returned to their original homes. For example, he has publicly supported moving the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum back to Greece.

He has also spoken about how important it is for historians to create good stories about the past, especially with so much fake news around. However, he warns that there can never be one single, perfect story of the past because history is always being understood in new ways. He explains that "golden ages" are often imagined pasts, and real history is much more complex and always changing.

Michael Wood's Personal Life

Michael Wood lives in north London with his wife, Rebecca Ysabel Dobbs, who is a television producer. They have two daughters. His book "A South Indian Journey: The Smile of Murugan" was inspired by a temple astrologer who correctly predicted his marriage and the birth of his two daughters. Both of his daughters have Indian names.

Wood says his family's experiences during World War II sparked his interest in history. His uncle survived being torpedoed, his father cared for injured soldiers on D-Day, and his mother experienced the bombing of Manchester. Wood is also a vegetarian.

Michael Wood's Awards and Recognition

Michael Wood has received many honors for his work. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Arts. He has also been awarded several honorary degrees, including doctorates from Sunderland University (2009), the University of Leicester (2011), Lancaster University (2007), and the University of Winchester (2021). In 2015, he received the President's Medal from the British Academy.

Wood is the president of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding. He was also elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 2008. In 2021, he was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award for his contributions to public history and broadcasting.

Other famous historians have said that Michael Wood inspired them. BAFTA-winning broadcaster David Olusoga and historian Lucy Worsley both watched Wood's shows as teenagers and were inspired to become historians themselves.

The Wall Street Journal has called Wood's The Story of India a top example of documentary history making. The Independent newspaper described The Story of England as "the most innovative history series ever made for TV." The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, said that The Story of China connected with viewers across different cultures.

Michael Wood's Television Series

Michael Wood's Documentaries