10 Short Historical Series on Netflix You Can Watch in a Weekend

Each series, with just six to eight episodes, packs in enough drama, intrigue, and historical accuracy to satisfy any history buff, yet they're crisp enough to keep the casual viewer hooked.

It's a bit like reading those abridged classics – all the key points without the fluff. Here are the 10 short series that are perfect for a weekend binge:

Octoberfest - Beer & Blood (2020), 6 episodes

In early 20th-century Munich, a wealthy brewer's son returns to his hometown with bold plans to brew a new kind of beer, igniting a bitter rivalry with a local brewing tycoon and leading to a tumultuous saga of love, betrayal, and a cutthroat battle in the beer industry.

Cathedral of the Sea (2018), 8 episodes

Set in 14th-century Barcelona, this series follows the life of a serf's son who rises to wealth and status, with the construction of the Santa Maria del Mar cathedral as a backdrop, reflecting a turbulent period of feudalism, plague, and Inquisition.

The Irregulars (2021), 8 episodes

A group of misfit teenagers in Victorian London are manipulated into solving crimes for the sinister Doctor Watson and his mysterious business partner, Sherlock Holmes, facing supernatural forces and dark conspiracies that challenge their understanding of reality.

Heirs to the Land (2022), 8 episodes

In 14th-century Barcelona, a young man, determined to fulfill his late master's dream of building a hospital for the poor, faces challenges from the city's most powerful families and his own past.

La Revolution (2020), 8 episodes

A reimagined history of the French Revolution, where an investigator discovers a disease that causes the aristocracy to murder commoners, prompting a peasant uprising and a radical change in the course of history.

Troy: Fall of a City (2018), 8 episodes

This series retells the epic story of the Trojan War, focusing on the love affair between Paris and Helen, which leads to a decade-long conflict between Greece and Troy, steeped in drama, intrigue, and divine intervention.

Women at War (2022), 8 episodes

Four women from different backgrounds and beliefs become intertwined during World War I, challenging their views on love, duty, and femininity, as they navigate the complex realities of life at the frontline and at home.

The English Game (2020), 6 episodes

The birth of modern football (soccer) is dramatized through the lives of two players in the late 19th century England, showing how the game transcended class divisions and became the world's most popular sport.

The Empress (2022), 6 episodes

A dramatic portrayal of the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, focusing on her unexpected rise to power, her passionate love affair with Emperor Franz Joseph, and her struggle to navigate the complex and often dangerous world of political intrigue.

The Cook of Castamar (2021), 12 episodes

Set in early 18th-century Madrid, the series follows a talented cook with agoraphobia who finds love and a new lease on life when she starts working in the kitchen of a widowed Duke, intertwining culinary artistry with class struggles and romance.