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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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: 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.

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: 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...

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...

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...

02: The Age of Iron | Ancient Worlds

Richard Miles explores the roots of civilisation. He looks at the winners and losers of the Bronze Age collapse, and the powers that eme...

01: Come Together | Ancient Worlds

Richard Miles explores the roots of civilisation. Starting in Uruk, the 'mother of all cities', in southern Iraq, he travels to Syria, Egy...

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.

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...

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: 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...

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).

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.

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...

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

A Flanders and Swann pastiche.

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

A Flanders and Swann pastiche.

S01E04: Historical Hospital: Hippocrates | Horrible Histories

Hippocrates demonstrates his unorthodox diagnostic techniques.

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

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...

S01E11: Stupid Deaths: Pausanias | Horrible Histories

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

S01E06: Greek Myth Talk | Horrible Histories

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

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...

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.

04: Return of the King | Ancient Worlds

Richard Miles examines the legacy of Alexander the Great. In Pakistan he discovers traces of a city where west and east were united i...

03: The Greek Thing | Ancient Worlds

Richard Miles explores the power and the paradox of the 'Greek Thing' - a blossoming in art, philosophy and science that went hand in ha...

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: 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.

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.

Benin | Learning Zone

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

Nanban Screens | Civilisations

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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 (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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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

What historians now believe happened at Pompeii

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...

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...

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: 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...

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...

S01E01: Gladiator school | Horrible Histories

Imagine spot: High school for aspiring gladiators.

S01E01: Roman funerals | Horrible Histories

The pre-gladiatorial custom of staging fights at funerals.

02: Invasion | What the Romans Did for Us

Hart-Davis analyses the military strength and effectiveness of the Roman army and visits the Lunt, a reconstruction of an early woo...