05: The Atlantic Age | Africa’s Great Civilisations

Duration: 52'18''

Synopsis

This episode looks at the tremendous changes that took place across the continent between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Further Information

More clips from Africa's Great Civilisations

01: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations

01: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'45''

Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently living humanity.

02: The Cross and the Crescent | Africa's Great Civilisations

02: The Cross and the Crescent | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'38''

Henry Louis Gates Jr explores how the emergence of Christianity and Islam reshaped Africa over centuries.

03: Empires of Gold | Africa's Great Civilisations

03: Empires of Gold | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'37''

Henry Louis Gates travels to the shores of the Sahara Desert to see the transformation of north and west Africa.

04: Cities | Africa's Great Civilisations

04: Cities | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'06''

This episode looks at the powerful, cosmopolitan cities that dotted Africa at the time when Europe was in its Middle Ages.

06: Clash of Civilisations | Africa's Great Civilisations

06: Clash of Civilisations | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'54''

The final episode reviews the 19th century, when a fierce competition for resources and trade led to conflicts.

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'21''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates Amanirenas, the Queen of the Kingdom of Kush.

Ancient life in the Sahara | Africa's Great Civilisations

Ancient life in the Sahara | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'50''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates cave paintings which demonstrate that the Sahara was once a Savannah.

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia | Africa's Great Civilisations

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'25''

Throughout Ethiopian history, rulers have claimed links to King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the...

Early humans and the development of culture | Africa's Great Civilisations

Early humans and the development of culture | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'06''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates early human migration from Africa and the development of culture...

Early Islam in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

Early Islam in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'43''

How Islam impacted Africa culturally and politically.

Iron technologies | Africa's Great Civilisations

Iron technologies | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'22''

Henry Louis Gates investigates the early uses of Iron and the impacts it had on early societies in Africa.

Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush | Africa's Great Civilisations

Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'02''

Henry Louis Gates explores the ancient powerful settlement of Kerma, which was located in modern day Sudan.

King Ezana of Axum and Christianity | Africa's Great Civilisations

King Ezana of Axum and Christianity | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'59''

King Ezana of Axum's decision to convert to Christianity changed the course of African history.

Lalibela | Africa's Great Civilisations

Lalibela | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'47''

In Ethiopia, the rock churches of Lalibela were part of a plan to build a new Jerusalem.

Monasticism | Africa's Great Civilisations

Monasticism | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 1'26''

The story of how monasticism emerged in Africa through the work of St Anthony in Egypt.

Nubian Christian frescoes | Africa's Great Civilisations

Nubian Christian frescoes | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'27''

A look at the beautiful and distinctive frescoes produced by Nubian Christians in the seventh and eighth centuries.

The development of complex societies in the Nile Valley | Africa's Great Civilisations

The development of complex societies in the Nile Valley | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'39''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates evidence of complex societies and creative cultures ...

The evolution of writing | Africa's Great Civilisations

The evolution of writing | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'42''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates the evolution of writing in Africa.

The Great Pyramid of Giza | Africa's Great Civilisations

The Great Pyramid of Giza | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'17''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates the construction of the pyramids and the societies that created them.

The origins of humanity in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

The origins of humanity in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'08''

Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently livi...

More resources about Ancient Civilizations

Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

BBC One | 2003 | 57'25''

Drama documentary real-life gladiator, Verus, who fought during the opening games of the Colosseum in Rome AD 80. The programme follows Veru...

Horrible Histories: The Movie (2019)

Horrible Histories: The Movie (2019)

CBBC | 2021 | 1'28'05''

When Roman lad Atti offends edgy Emperor Nero, he is drafted to fight in far-flung Britain, where local Celt lass Orla itches to join Bo...

S01E02: Hammers of the Scots | A History of Scotland

S01E02: Hammers of the Scots | A History of Scotland

BBC One Scotland | 2008 | 56'16''

Neil Oliver charts the 13th century story of the two ruthless men who helped transform the Gaelic kingdom of Alba into t...

01: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

01: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

BBC Two | 2004 | 58'57''

Peter and Dan Snow on the battles that shaped our nation, starting almost 2,000 years ago with the revolt of the Iceni, led by...

Medicine Through Time (1998): 01: Medicine and Religion | History File

Medicine Through Time (1998): 01: Medicine and Religion | History File

BBC Two | 1998 | 24'02''

Programme begins with looking at Ancient Greece, then the Roman Empire then looking at Muslim and Chri...

01: The Bodies | Pompeii: The New Dig

01: The Bodies | Pompeii: The New Dig

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'54''

At Pompeii, Italian archaeologists begin the biggest dig in a generation, where they find a bakery, a wealthy house and a fresco of a s...

S01E01: The Last of the Free | A History of Scotland

S01E01: The Last of the Free | A History of Scotland

BBC One Scotland | 2008 | 57'57''

At the dawn of the first millennia, there was no Scotland or England. Neil Oliver reveals how the Gaelic Scottish Kingdo...

02: Egypt | Civilisations: Rise and Fall

02: Egypt | Civilisations: Rise and Fall

BBC Two | 2025 | 59'00''

The 3,000-year-old civilisation of ancient Egypt faces disaster as war, famine and a toxic dynasty threaten its survival. Will Queen...

03: The Aztecs, Maya and Incas | What the Ancients Did for Us

03: The Aztecs, Maya and Incas | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 58'57''

Roving reporter Hermione Cockburn describes Aztec, Mayan and Incan inventions, including chocolate, suspension ...

Mount Vesuvius erupts | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

Mount Vesuvius erupts | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

BBC One | 2013 | 2'32''

An exploration of what happened when Mount Vesuvius first erupted in 79AD.

01: Survival | Andrew Marr's History of the World

01: Survival | Andrew Marr's History of the World

BBC One | 2012 | 59'26''

Andrew Marr traces 70,000 years of history, beginning with the earliest humans. From Africa, they spread around the world, ...

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 47'02''

In AD80, the Colosseum is open for business. Roman emperor Titus plans 100 days of games to commemorate, including an epic battle to the death...

Medicine Through Time (1989): 02: Medicine, Public Health and Government | History File

Medicine Through Time (1989): 02: Medicine, Public Health and Government | History File

BBC Two | 1989 | 18'57''

With the fall of the Roman Empire came the collapse of the public health system which...

Murder In Rome | Timewatch

Murder In Rome | Timewatch

BBC Two | 2005 | 49'15''

Rome, 81BC. Sextus Roscius is accused of patricide. If found guilty, he faces brutal execution. Includes actual trial records to recreate one of t...

01: Ancestors | The Story of China

01: Ancestors | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'00''

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Michael joins the Qin family reunion, as 300 relatives gather to worsh...

03: Aztecs | Civilisations: Rise and Fall

03: Aztecs | Civilisations: Rise and Fall

BBC Two | 2025 | 59'20''

The Aztecs battle to save their civilisation from Spanish invaders – but is the real threat from the enemy within?

Episode 1 | The Silk Road

Episode 1 | The Silk Road

BBC Four | 2016 | 59'05''

Sam Willis traces the story of the famous trade route. He explores Venice's Renaissance architecture and art before travelling to the beginning of ...

S01E01: Dark Ages | The Worst Jobs In History

S01E01: Dark Ages | The Worst Jobs In History

Channel 4 | 2004 | 48'53''

Some of the worst jobs of the Dark Ages in Britain were mining gold for the Romans, ploughing fields with a wooden plough and o...

01: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

01: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'02''

Michael Wood journeys through the subcontinent, tracing the diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes. He charts th...

01: The Islamic World | What the Ancients Did for Us

01: The Islamic World | What the Ancients Did for Us

BBC Two | 2008 | 57'53''

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the most extraordinary inventions from the early Islamic World.