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The Real Medieval History Behind Of 'Game Of Thrones'

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Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, in an image from season seven of "Game of Thrones." (Helen Sloan/Courtesy of HBO)
Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, in an image from season seven of "Game of Thrones." (Helen Sloan/Courtesy of HBO)

Winter is here — on television, anyway. "Game of Thrones" is back for its final season on HBO. And according to the Hollywood Reporter, last season drew some 33 million viewers.

If you're looking to catch up in a marathon viewing session, you'll need more than 65 hours to absorb all the violence, palace intrigue, dragons and zombies.

Have you ever wondered where "Game of Thrones" creator George R. R. Martin got his inspiration for the books and the show?
According to Harvard professor Racha Kirakosian, Martin got a lot of it from real medieval history.

Guest

Racha Kirakosian, professor of German and a scholar of medieval mysticism and history at Harvard. She teaches a course called "The Real Game of Thrones."

This segment aired on April 15, 2019.

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Jamie Bologna Senior Producer/Director, Radio Boston
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