Ancient Civilizations

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 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 ...

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...

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...

The Shang Empire | Learning Zone

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

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.

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...

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

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

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, ...

S02E07: Dinosaurs & Duplicity: Discovery of the First Dinosaur | Days That Shook the World

Using dramatized reconstructions, this program recalls the first discovery of a di...

S01E01: The Cult | The Battle for Britain's Soul

With disease and famine a constant threat, superstitious Iron-Age Britons sought to appease their pagan gods through ritual ...

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...

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...

Woolly Mammoth: Secrets from the Ice

Professor Alice Roberts on the natural history of the woolly mammoth, revealing adaptations that helped the species evolve from their or...

S01E06: Latton Mammoths | The Big Monster Dig

Lucy and the team try to unlock the mysteries of an ice age mammoth graveyard in the Cotswolds in this episode.

Triumph of the Beasts | Walking with Beasts

The incredible story of how mammals took over from the dinosaurs as the largest, fastest and fiercest creatures on Earth.

05: Sabre Tooth | Walking with Beasts

This episode follows the progress of a Smilodon called Half Tooth. Smilodon was the largest of all the sabre tooth cats which roamed So...

03: Land of Giants | Walking with Beasts

25 million years ago in the Oligocene Epoch lived the Indricotheres. Weighing 15 tonnes and standing 7 metres tall, they were the la...

01: New Dawn | Walking with Beasts

The series following on from Walking with Dinosaurs. begins 49 million years ago. The world is heavily forested and birds rule the planet,...

Bronze Age Britain | Learning Zone

Life in Bronze Age Britain through the eyes of one family as they learn how copper and tin is mined, and make bronze using a furnace.

Bronze Age Stonehenge gold | Learning Zone

There are also lots of barrow burials around Stonehenge and one of them, Bush Barrow Man, is used to find out about Bronze Age times.

Bronze Age: wool | Learning Zone

Raksha visits the Bronze Age at an ancient farm and learns how to make woollen cloth.

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

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

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...

06: The Britons | What the Ancients Did for Us

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

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

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

03: Learning Zone | Ancient Egypt - Life and Death in the Valley of the Kings

A compilation of short films made specially for schools based on the BBC Two history series. Dr...

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: Tutankhamun's Tomb | Days That Shook the World

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

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...

S01E07: Egyptian Gods | Horrible Histories

Meet the Egyptian gods (animated).

11: An t-Seann Eipheit/Ancient Egypt | Sealgairean Sporsail/History Hunters

Light-hearted look at historic civilisations and their inventions. Travel back to Ancient Egypt w...

02: How Do We Look? | Civilisations

Mary Beard explores images of the human body in ancient art, from Mexico and Greece to Egypt and China.

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

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

04: Hatshepsut | Queens that Changed the World

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

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...

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.

Mummification in Ancient Egypt | Learning Zone

Dr Joann Fletcher outlines the removal of the brain and organs, as well as explaining why the heart was left inside the body.

The afterlife in Ancient Egypt | Learning Zone

Dr Joann Fletcher explains the importance of the afterlife for Ancient Egyptians. She looks at some of the items that would be...

Tombs in Ancient Egypt | Learning Zone

Dr Joann Fletcher takes a look at an unfinished tomb and examines some of the tools that would have been used to build it.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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: 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.

S01E09: Historical Wife Swap: Greeks | Horrible Histories

A couple of the effete Athenians trade places with the legendarily tough Spartans.

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...

S01E07: Helen of Troy | Horrible Histories

The story of Helen of Troy retold as inner-city melodrama.

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...

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...

S01E07: Trojan Horse | Horrible Histories

Imagine spot: Smuggling the Trojan horse past the guards--apparently, much simpler than you'd think.

S01E06: Greek Myth Talk | Horrible Histories

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

01: Son of God | In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great

Michael Wood walks in the footsteps of Alexander the Great as he travels from Macedonia in Northern Greece, crosses ...

02: How Do We Look? | Civilisations

Mary Beard explores images of the human body in ancient art, from Mexico and Greece to Egypt and China.

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

A Flanders and Swann pastiche.

S01E12: The first play ever | Horrible Histories

The first play in history.

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

A Flanders and Swann pastiche.

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.

S01E11: Stupid Deaths: Pausanias | Horrible Histories

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

S01E10: HHTV News: Spartan warriors armour | Horrible Histories

Mike Peabody reports live from the Battle of Thermopylae.

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.

06: First Contact | 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.

Nanban Screens | Civilisations

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

Benin Bronzes | Civilisations

David Olusoga visits the Benin Bronzes at the British Museum.

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...

Gladiator (2000)

Maximus Decimus Meridius, heir and favoured general of the Roman emperor, is betrayed by the emperor's son Commodus and enslaved to a gladiator trainer.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

When the Emperor Trajan stages his great games of AD107, the crowd is treated to a rare spectacle - female gladiators. A Roman named Mevia ill...

06: Boudica | Queens that Changed the World

Boudica and her army razed Roman cities to the ground. Although she was eventually defeated, her image and legacy live on.

05: Constantine | Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

This edition shows how the Emperor Constantine brought Christianity to the western world.

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...

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...

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

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...

04: Rebellion | Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

How the Jewish Revolt, which swept through Judea in AD66, was stopped by General Vespasian and his son Titus.

The Man Who Saved Rome

An examination of the sinews of Roman power, from the army through to engineering, told through the biography of Vespasian, who saved the Empire from ...

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,...

05: Roman Invasions | Historyonics

Nick Knowles investigates the truth about Julius Caesar and the two incursions he made into Britain before 54BC, discovering why and how h...

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

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