Ancient Civilizations

Episode 1 | The Silk Road

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

Episode 2 | The Silk Road

Sam Willis travels west to Central Asia, a place of major innovations, big historical characters and a people - the Sogdians - whose role was pivot...

02: The Chinese | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the most extraordinary inventions from the ancient Chinese world.

05: The Last Empire | The Story of China

Michael Wood looks at China's Qing empire, which lasted from 1644 to 1912. Under the Qing, China doubled in size and became arguably...

Episode 3 | The Silk Road

Sam Willis continues his journey west in Iran. He begins in Persepolis, heart of the first Persian Empire, before heading to Istanbul and then comi...

03: The Golden Age | The Story of China

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Here, he focuses on the Song dynasty era (960-1279), including it...

04: The Ming | The Story of China

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. The tale of the Ming dynasty begins with the amazing story of Hongwu, a...

01: Ancestors | The Story of China

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

02: Silk Roads and China Ships | The Story of China

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Michael tells the tale of China's first international...

The Shang Empire | Learning Zone

The Shang developed writing amongst other inventions. This Bronze Age society developed a powerful army using bronze weapons.

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

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

01: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

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

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

S01E01: Age of Ice | A History of Ancient Britain

Neil Oliver travels back to ice age Britain as he begins the epic story of the evolution of the land and its occupants over...

01: Stonehenge | The Flying Archaeologist

Archaeologist Ben Robinson flies over Wiltshire to uncover new discoveries in the Stone Age landscape. Sites found from the air hav...

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

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

06: The Britons | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis and Jamie Darling examine the highlights of ancient British technology.

05: The Mesopotamians | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of the Mesopotamians.

S01E03: Age of Cosmology | A History of Ancient Britain

Neil Oliver continues his journey through the world of Ancient Britain as he encounters an age of cosmological priest...

02: Birth of a Nation | In Search of Scotland

By the first century, Scotland was in an age of competing tribes speaking different languages. Fiona Watson examines how the Pi...

04: The Indians | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the ancient Indian world.

S01E08: Caveman Love: Part 2 (Song) | Horrible Histories

1950's doo-wop parody for the Stone Age.

S01E08: Ready Steady Feast: Stone Age | Horrible Histories

Sampling the best in cave foods.

S01E08: Caveman Love: Part 1 (Song) | Horrible Histories

1950's doo-wop parody for the Stone Age.

S01E05: Neanderthal dinner party | Horrible Histories

A Homo sapiens couple invite the local Neanderthals to dinner.

S01E05: HHTV News: Stone Age Report | Horrible Histories

HHTV News: Bob Hale's Stone Age Report.

S01E02: Caveman Art Show | Horrible Histories

Preserving the head of a dead relative.

S01E02: Historical Hospital: Savage Stone Age | Horrible Histories

Ugg, Stone Age Doctor: Tattoo and trepanning treatments.

S01E01: Stone Age burial | Horrible Histories

The (not-so-)carefully reconstructed funeral of a stone-age tribal chief.

S01E01: Stone Age Tool Set | Horrible Histories

Spoof advert for stone age stones.

02: Egypt | Civilisations: Rise and Fall

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

02: The Nile, Food and Farming | Landmarks

Jamie Theakston and Marcelle Duprey find out more about the land of the pharaohs. A look at evidence of ancient Egyptian food, far...

08: The Egyptians | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of ancient Egypt.

04: Hatshepsut | Queens that Changed the World

Hatshepsut, the female King, developed trade, oversaw pioneering architecture and brought wealth and artistry to Ancient Egypt.

Marriage and family in Ancient Egypt | Learning Zone

Joann Fletcher describes the ceremony 'Bringing the Bundle', which was a kind of marriage proposal. Joann then finds abo...

05: Pharaohs and Gods | Landmarks

Jamie Theakston and Marcelle Duprey find out more about the land of the pharaohs. In this film, they visit the Cairo Museum, the tomb of Tu...

04: Pyramids and Temples | Landmarks

Jamie Theakston and Marcelle Duprey find out about the land of the pharaohs. In this edition, they visit the monuments of Giza, Luxor an...

03: Everyday Lives | Landmarks

Jamie Theakston and Marcelle Duprey find out more about the land of the pharaohs. What are `shabti', and why are they buried in tombs?

02: Death | Ancient Egypt - Life and Death in the Valley of the Kings

Egyptologist Dr Joann Fletcher discovers what life was like for ordinary Egyptians 3,500 years ago. She...

S01E07: Deciphering the Rosetta Stone | Days That Shook the World

In 1822, Jean-Francois Champollion cracked the ancient Egyptian code behind hieroglyphs.

S01E07: Tutankhamun's Tomb | Days That Shook the World

On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Daily life in Ancient Egypt | Learning Zone

Dr Joann Fletcher visits the village of Pa-Demi to discover more about the daily lives and tombs of Kha and Merit.

Ancient Egypt | Learning Zone

A visit to Ancient Egypt, and life 5000 years ago begins by exploring houses and homes, and contrasting them with our homes today.

01: Time and Place | Landmarks

Jamie Theakston and Marcelle Duprey find out more about the land of the pharaohs. This programme sets the scene as they search for a missing k...

S01E13: Hatshepsut, the first female pharaoh | Horrible Histories

The story of Hatshepsut, the first female pharaoh.

S01E13: This is Your Reign: Queen Cleopatra | Horrible Histories

Sorting Cleopatra's tangled family tree.

S01E07: Egyptian Gods | Horrible Histories

Meet the Egyptian gods (animated).

S01E07: Pyramid real estate | Horrible Histories

Imagine spot: Selling pyramid real estate.

S01E05: Mouse Fresh Max toothpaste | Horrible Histories

Mouse Fresh Max toothpaste (advertisement).

S01E05: Pharaoh Phashion | Horrible Histories

Pharaoh Phashion magazine offers beauty tips for peasants and aristocrats (advertisement).

02: Kings | Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth

Michael Scott looks at the decline of Athens and the triumph of theatre, which spread throughout the Greek world and b...

09: The Greeks | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of ancient Greece.

S01E12: We are Greek: Part 1 (Song) | Horrible Histories

A Flanders and Swann pastiche.

S01E12: We are Greek: Part 2 (Song) | Horrible Histories

A Flanders and Swann pastiche.

S01E04: Historical Hospital: Hippocrates | Horrible Histories

Hippocrates demonstrates his unorthodox diagnostic techniques.

01: Democrats | Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth

Michael Scott discovers that from the start, drama was about more than entertainment - it was a reaction to real e...

S01E06: Greek Myth Talk | Horrible Histories

Chat show ''Greek Myth Talk'' tells the lurid story of Kronos & his attempt at filicide.

03: Nero | Walden on Villains

Nero can be seen as the archetypal villain. He murdered his two wives and mother, subjected the Christians to gruesome persecution and burned d...

01: The Age of Heroes | Treasures of Ancient Greece

Series in which Alastair Sooke explores Greek art. He begins his journey in Crete at the palace of Knossos and travels to...

02: Age of Empire | Andrew Marr's History of the World

In this episode, Andrew Marr tells the story of the first empires which laid the foundations for the modern world.

Episode 1 | The Spartans

The Spartans chronicles the rise and fall of one of the most extreme civilizations the world has ever witnessed. A civilization that was

Homer, the 'The Iliad' and oral tradition | In Search of the Trojan War

Michael Wood explains how the language used in 'The Iliad' could link it to oral tradition.

03: Alexander the Great | Walden on Heroes

Brian Walden examines Alexander the Great's reputation as the hero's hero and claims that it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. H...

S01E12: Stupid Deaths: Aeschylus | Horrible Histories

Aeschylus (c. 525-456 BC), the ''father of Greek tragedy,'' supposedly died in 456 BC after an eagle, mistaking his bal...

S01E12: The first play ever | Horrible Histories

The first play in history.

S01E11: Stupid Deaths: Pausanias | Horrible Histories

The death of General Pausanias, the Spartan victor of the Battle of Plataea.

S01E11: Twisted Fairytales: Sleeping Beauty | Horrible Histories

Deals with the consequences of disobeying Draco's non-idleness law.

S01E11: Court of Historical Law: Draco | Horrible Histories

Draco imposes his truly draconian punishments on an apple thief.

S01E10: HHTV News: Spartan warriors armour | Horrible Histories

Mike Peabody reports live from the Battle of Thermopylae.

S01E10: Spartan warriors armour | Horrible Histories

Spartan warriors suit up at the weapons store pre-battle.

Benin Bronzes | Civilisations

David Olusoga visits the Benin Bronzes at the British Museum.

06: First Contact | Civilisations

David Olusoga shows how art was always on the frontline when distant cultures met.

05: The Atlantic Age | Africa's Great Civilisations

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

Nanban Screens | Civilisations

David Olusoga shows how art was always on the frontline when distant cultures met.

Benin | Learning Zone

Benin is famous for its bronzes. This film explores how they are made, using the 'lost wax' process, and why.

Horrible Histories: The Movie (2019)

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...

Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

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

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

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

03: The Beastmaster | Colosseum

Over a million animals are slaughtered on the sands of the arena by trained beastmasters, none more famous than Carpophorus. But when met wit...

02: Augustus: First of the Emperors | I, Caesar

In 44 BC, a teenage relative of Julius Caesar stepped in and triumphed over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in a brutal civil war, ...

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

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

What historians now believe happened at Pompeii | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

What historians now believe happened at Pompeii

01: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

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...

S01E01: Dark Ages | The Worst Jobs In History

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...

03: Nero: Power and the Madness | I, Caesar

Nero's rule was characterized by an obsession with his artistic talents, and sullied by corruption, sexual debauchery, matricide,...

01: The Bodies | Pompeii: The New Dig

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...

Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

Margaret Mountford examines new evidence to reveal the sequence of events that destroyed the city of Pompeii and attempts t...

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

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...

Murder In Rome | Timewatch

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

03: The Final Hours | Pompeii: The New Dig

In Pompeii, the excavation of a wealthy villa, bakery and laundry reaches its climax with chilling revelations about what people w...

The first recorded Pyroclastic current | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

A witness account of the 79AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius reveals that the eruption...

S03E02: The Princess and the Pauper: Part 2 | Meet the Ancestors

The investigation continues as the objects found at the site are re-created in an attempt to fill out the li...

07: The Romans | What the Ancients Did for Us

Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the greatest inventions from the world of ancient Rome.

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

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

01: Nero | Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

Dramatic reconstructions and computer graphics tell the story of ancient Rome. This programme focuses on Nero, charti...