In the interests of family harmony, you might try another great series in the meantime - Ken Burns’ DVDs on the Civil War. It is absolutely awe inspiring, and has less of the gore. Stay away from “Glory”, however, until the kids are a lot older.
Definitely, the Ken Burn’s DVD’s. Check out Barbarians II. They teach about the dark ages very well, in my opinion, through four hour long shows on the Vandals, the Saxons, the Franks (and I haven’t seen the 4th so I don’t know what tribe it is). It is bloody though, lot’s of court intrigue, betrayal, war, and the like . . . with professors talking in between the dramatic scenes.