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History - Ancient

Most Popular

Seasons - A Journey into the Forests of Europe 97 mins Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud (Directors of the Oscar-nominated, Winged Migration) return to the lush green forests that emerged across Europe following the last Ice…
Seasons - A Journey into the Forests of Europe Seasons - A Journey into the Forests of Europe
Neanderthal 2 videos This documentary investigates what our ancient ancestors looked like and what would have happened when we met them. It turns out that what we thought…
Neanderthal Neanderthal
Dawn of Humanity 114 mins NOVA and National Geographic present exclusive access to a unique discovery of ancient remains. Located in an almost inaccessible chamber deep in a South African…
Dawn of Humanity Dawn of Humanity
Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans 117 mins For almost 2000 years, the ancient Maya of Central America recorded their history and ideas in an intricate and beautiful hieroglyphic script. Then, in the…
Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans
Royal Deceit 108 mins An ancient Danish story of evil, power and human spirit, that subsequently inspired William Shakespeare on his tragedy, Hamlet. When the king of Jutland is…
Royal Deceit Royal Deceit
Constantine's Sword 96 mins This astonishing exploration of the dark side of Christianity follows former priest James Carroll on a journey of remembrance and reckoning. Carroll, a National Book…
Constantine's Sword Constantine's Sword
Augustine: A Voice for all Generations 58 mins Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the greatest theologians of the Christian Church. His works, including The City of God, On the Trinity, and…
Augustine: A Voice for all Generations Augustine: A Voice for all Generations
In the Footsteps of Buddha - The Path to Buddha’s Enlightenment 59 mins A journey across India walking in the same path that lead to Buddha's enlightenment. Siddhartha Guatama lived 2500 years ago in an ancient land called…
In the Footsteps of Buddha - The Path to Buddha’s Enlightenment In the Footsteps of Buddha - The Path to Buddha’s Enlightenment
This Changed Everything - Episode 2 - Commemorating 500 Years of the Reformation 54 mins The second episode in this series explores how the Protestant Reformation continued to spread quickly across Europe. Protestantism continued to splinter as radical reformers championed…
This Changed Everything - Episode 2 - Commemorating 500 Years of the Reformation This Changed Everything - Episode 2 - Commemorating 500 Years of the Reformation

Archaeology

First Steps 53 mins Where did we come from? What makes us human? An explosion of recent discoveries sheds light on these questions, and NOVA's comprehensive, three-part special, "Becoming…
First Steps First Steps
Dawn of Humanity 114 mins NOVA and National Geographic present exclusive access to a unique discovery of ancient remains. Located in an almost inaccessible chamber deep in a South African…
Dawn of Humanity Dawn of Humanity
Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans 117 mins For almost 2000 years, the ancient Maya of Central America recorded their history and ideas in an intricate and beautiful hieroglyphic script. Then, in the…
Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans
Decoding Neanderthals 54 mins Over 60,000 years ago, the first modern humans--people physically identical to us today--left their African homeland and entered Europe, then a bleak and inhospitable continent…
Decoding Neanderthals Decoding Neanderthals
Emperor's Ghost Army 54 mins In central China, a vast underground mausoleum conceals a life-size terracotta army of cavalry, infantry, horses, chariots, weapons, administrators, acrobats, and musicians, all built to…
Emperor's Ghost Army Emperor's Ghost Army
Birth of Humanity 53 mins In "Birth of Humanity," the second part of the three-part series "Becoming Human," NOVA investigates the first skeleton that really looks like us-"Turkana Boy"-an astonishingly…
Birth of Humanity Birth of Humanity
Last Human Standing  53 mins In "Last Human Standing," the final program of the three-part series "Becoming Human," NOVA examines the fate of the Neanderthals, our European cousins who died…
Last Human Standing  Last Human Standing 

Great Events of the Ancient and Medieval Worlds

Ramesses II: Heartbeat of History 32 mins What do we mean by "living history"? Take an imaginative leap into the ancient world and discover the moment-by-moment heartbeat of history. Your first stop…
Ramesses II: Heartbeat of History Ramesses II: Heartbeat of History
Marathon: The Persians Have Landed! 33 mins Professor Garland takes you into the Battle of Marathon to show how the outnumbered Athenians scramble for help before heading to the coast for an…
Marathon: The Persians Have Landed! Marathon: The Persians Have Landed!
Oresteia: Judgment at the Dionysia 33 mins Take a break from battle and head to the Theater of Dionysis on a warm March day to view one of the most astounding theatrical…
Oresteia: Judgment at the Dionysia Oresteia: Judgment at the Dionysia
Attack on Attica: Pericles’s Gamble 32 mins Delve into the time of Pericles and the Peloponnesian War, where political action has required rural citizens to head into the city. There, the cramped…
Attack on Attica: Pericles’s Gamble Attack on Attica: Pericles’s Gamble
Socrates on Trial: For the Defense 34 mins You might think you know Socrates, but in this lecture you'll encounter a whole new context for understanding one of the Greeks' most famous citizens.…
Socrates on Trial: For the Defense Socrates on Trial: For the Defense
Conspiracy! Murder of Philip II 32 mins Murder has always intrigued us, especially when the fate of a state hangs in the balance. Explore the mystery of Philip II of Macedonia, who…
Conspiracy! Murder of Philip II Conspiracy! Murder of Philip II
Alexander the Great: Punjab Revolt 32 mins Alexander is one of history's most interesting characters--a brilliant, flawed, complex leader. A restless megalomaniac tutored by Aristotle, he drives his army across the ancient…
Alexander the Great: Punjab Revolt Alexander the Great: Punjab Revolt

30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World

Where Do We Come From? 33 mins What are the common themes of ancient art? Why is ancient art relevant today? What makes a masterpiece? Before you begin your journey through the…
Where Do We Come From? Where Do We Come From?
Ancient Cave Art—Chauvet, France 32 mins Step back more than 30,000 years as you view some of the earliest known art in the world-- a fabulous gallery of animals painted on…
Ancient Cave Art—Chauvet, France Ancient Cave Art—Chauvet, France
The Uruk Vase—Vision of an Ordered World 28 mins In Mesopotamia, writing was developed 5,000 years ago, alongside the first narrative art, which set the stage for everything that followed in the Western art…
The Uruk Vase—Vision of an Ordered World The Uruk Vase—Vision of an Ordered World
The Standard of Ur—Role of the King 32 mins Turn to the masterpieces of the ancient Sumerians in the city of Ur, the "Cradle of Civilization." No one knows whether the mysterious Royal Standard…
The Standard of Ur—Role of the King The Standard of Ur—Role of the King
“Ram Caught in a Thicket” 30 mins Explore the fertility theme in the first 3-D sculpture of the course. "Ram Caught in a Thicket" was excavated from the Great Death Pit at…
“Ram Caught in a Thicket” “Ram Caught in a Thicket”
Great Ziggurat at Ur—Ancient Architecture 32 mins With the magnificent ziggurats, ancient people reached for the sky, which was the domain of the deities. Learn about Nanna, the Sumerian moon god, and…
Great Ziggurat at Ur—Ancient Architecture Great Ziggurat at Ur—Ancient Architecture
Victory Stela of Naram-Sin of Akkad 32 mins What makes a king a god? Ponder the visual propaganda behind Naram-Sin's victory stela. After learning the story of this Akkadian king, you'll study this…
Victory Stela of Naram-Sin of Akkad Victory Stela of Naram-Sin of Akkad

Egypt: New Discoveries, Ancient Mysteries

Giza: The Lost City of the Pyramid Builders 31 mins Discover who constructed the enchanting Pyramids of Giza and what secrets they hold inside in this exclusive expedition.
Giza: The Lost City of the Pyramid Builders Giza: The Lost City of the Pyramid Builders
The Lost Tombs of the Thebes 31 mins Journey through a maze of private tombs buried in the foothills of Egypt to learn the real heritage of the pharaohs and how people lived…
The Lost Tombs of the Thebes The Lost Tombs of the Thebes
In the Valley of the Kings 32 mins Enter the Valley of the Kings to relive the Tutankamon excavation, and experience first-hand the latest discoveries of the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut and the…
In the Valley of the Kings In the Valley of the Kings
The Hidden Treasures of the Cairo Museum 29 mins Take a private trip into the unknown basement rooms of the famous Cairo Museum to find many forgotten Egyptian treasures, sarcophagi, and mummies buried under…
The Hidden Treasures of the Cairo Museum The Hidden Treasures of the Cairo Museum
Saqqara: The Cult of the Dead 38 mins Experience the site of Ancient Egypt's widest necropolis city, Saqqara, and take a journey into one of the most important traditions of Egyptian culture: the…
Saqqara: The Cult of the Dead Saqqara: The Cult of the Dead
Heliopolis - The Cradle of the Gods 28 mins Voyage into the ancient city of Heliopolis to uncover the importance of Ancient Egypt's cult of the Sun and answer the old-age questions of Egyptian…
Heliopolis - The Cradle of the Gods Heliopolis - The Cradle of the Gods
Ramses II: The Quest for Immortality 42 mins Uncover the secrets of pharaoh Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses The Great, as we explore his life to provide a better understanding of all…
Ramses II: The Quest for Immortality Ramses II: The Quest for Immortality

Ancient China

Emperor's Ghost Army 54 mins In central China, a vast underground mausoleum conceals a life-size terracotta army of cavalry, infantry, horses, chariots, weapons, administrators, acrobats, and musicians, all built to…
Emperor's Ghost Army Emperor's Ghost Army
Secrets of the Dead - China's Terracotta Warriors 54 mins The life-sized terracotta warriors of China are known throughout the world. This clay army of 8,000 including infantry, archers, generals and cavalry was discovered by…
Secrets of the Dead - China's Terracotta Warriors Secrets of the Dead - China's Terracotta Warriors
Confucius - The Life and Work of Confucius 36 mins Confucius (551 - 479 B.C.) was not exactly an author in the way that other writers in the Famous Authors series are. His ideas however,…
Confucius - The Life and Work of Confucius Confucius - The Life and Work of Confucius
Chinese - Neolithic to Modern Day 2 videos Using an easy to follow progressive timeline from early beginning to more modern day, students will follow the emerging development and ultimate sophistication of this…
Chinese - Neolithic to Modern Day Chinese - Neolithic to Modern Day
Bronzes of Ancient China 33 mins Move east to the Shang and Chou dynasties in ancient China, where bronze vessels cast with astonishing technical skill and artistry are the defining artifact.…
Bronzes of Ancient China Bronzes of Ancient China
Threads of Life - Hemp And Gender In A Hmong Village 29 mins For centuries Hmong people have lived in the mountains of China and Southeast Asia. They have in more recent history fled Laos as refugees and…
Threads of Life - Hemp And Gender In A Hmong Village Threads of Life - Hemp And Gender In A Hmong Village
Chinese Christianity: Missionaries to Mao 30 mins Continue your study of contemporary global Christianity. In China, the rise of Christianity has met with an uneasy mix of enthusiasm and suspicion. After reviewing…
Chinese Christianity: Missionaries to Mao Chinese Christianity: Missionaries to Mao

Ancient Rome

The Hidden History of Rome 51 mins Who better to scrutinise and investigate the quirkier achievements of the impressive and expansive Roman Empire than co-creator of the brilliantly accomplished question; 'What have…
The Hidden History of Rome The Hidden History of Rome
Rick Steves: Luther and the Reformation - The 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation 56 mins Travel expert Rick Steves sheds light on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation by visiting key sites (including Erfurt, Wittenberg and Rome), and explores the…
Rick Steves: Luther and the Reformation - The 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation Rick Steves: Luther and the Reformation - The 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation
David Macaulay - Roman City 56 mins The glories of Ancient Rome are explored in ROMAN CITY, based on David Macaulay's acclaimed book. This animated and live-action video recounts life in Verbonia,…
David Macaulay - Roman City David Macaulay - Roman City
Roman Catacomb Mystery 54 mins Beneath the streets of Rome lies a city of the dead known as the Catacombs--a labyrinth of tunnels, hundreds of miles long, lined with the…
Roman Catacomb Mystery Roman Catacomb Mystery
Roman - Neolithic Period to Modern Day 2 videos Using an easy to follow progressive timeline from early beginning to more modern day, students will follow the emerging development and ultimate sophistication of this…
Roman - Neolithic Period to Modern Day Roman - Neolithic Period to Modern Day
Glorious Rome - Capital of An Empire 23 mins Take a virtual reality tour of one of history's most intriguing ancient civilizations. Explore the architectural treasures of ancient Rome, the epicenter of the most…
Glorious Rome - Capital of An Empire Glorious Rome - Capital of An Empire
The Good Life in Rome 29 mins Travel through Rome in the footsteps of a well-to-do citizen, from his freestanding apartment complex to the political happenings at the Forum Romanum to the…
The Good Life in Rome The Good Life in Rome
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Page 1
Seasons - A Journey into the Forests of Europe
Seasons - A Journey into the Forests of Europe
Music Box Films
Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud (Directors of the Oscar-nominated, Winged Migration ) return to the lush green forests that emerged across Europe following the last Ice Age, when the ice retreated, and the cycle of seasons was established. SEASONS is…
Neanderthal
Neanderthal
PBS
This documentary investigates what our ancient ancestors looked like and what would have happened when we met them. It turns out that what we thought we knew about them is wrong. They weren't hunched, grunting, knuckle-dragging ape-men at all. In…
2 videos
First Steps
First Steps
Episode 1 of NOVA: Becoming Human
PBS
Where did we come from? What makes us human? An explosion of recent discoveries sheds light on these questions, and NOVA's comprehensive, three-part special, "Becoming Human," examines what the latest scientific research reveals about our hominid relatives. Part 1, "First…
Dawn of Humanity
Dawn of Humanity
PBS
NOVA and National Geographic present exclusive access to a unique discovery of ancient remains. Located in an almost inaccessible chamber deep in a South African cave, the site required recruiting a special team of experts slender enough to wriggle down…
Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans
Breaking the Maya Code - Discovering Remnants of the Mayans
First Run Features
For almost 2000 years, the ancient Maya of Central America recorded their history and ideas in an intricate and beautiful hieroglyphic script. Then, in the 16th century, Spanish invaders burned their books and ruthlessly extinguished hieroglyphic literacy. By the 18th…
Royal Deceit
Royal Deceit
Samuel Goldwyn Films
An ancient Danish story of evil, power and human spirit, that subsequently inspired William Shakespeare on his tragedy, Hamlet. When the king of Jutland is murdered by his brother, the dark prince claims both the throne and Queen Geruth. Although…
Constantine's Sword
Constantine's Sword
First Run Features
This astonishing exploration of the dark side of Christianity follows former priest James Carroll on a journey of remembrance and reckoning. Carroll, a National Book Award winner, is a practicing Catholic whose search for the truth leads him to confront…
Decoding Neanderthals
Decoding Neanderthals
PBS
Over 60,000 years ago, the first modern humans--people physically identical to us today--left their African homeland and entered Europe, then a bleak and inhospitable continent in the grip of the Ice Age. But when they arrived, they were not alone:…
From Britannia to Britain
From Britannia to Britain
Episode 1 of Story of Medieval England
The Great Courses
A discussion of how the geography of Britain has shaped political events over the centuries introduces you to the significance of English history between the 5th-century fall of the Roman Empire and the 1485 advent of the Tudor Dynasty.
Hagia Sophia - Istanbul's Mystery
Hagia Sophia - Istanbul's Mystery
PBS
Whether serving as Christian church, Islamic mosque, or secular museum, Hagia Sophia and its soaring dome have inspired reverence and awe. For 800 years, it was the largest enclosed building in the world--the Statue of Liberty can fit beneath its…
Colosseum - Roman Death Trap
Colosseum - Roman Death Trap
PBS
The Colosseum is a monument to Roman imperial power and cruelty. Its graceful lines and harmonious proportions concealed a highly efficient design and advanced construction methods that made hundreds of arches out of 100,000 tons of stone. In its elliptical…
Augustine: A Voice for all Generations
Augustine: A Voice for all Generations
Vision Video
Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the greatest theologians of the Christian Church. His works, including The City of God, On the Trinity, and Confessions, have had an inestimable impact on the Church and, by extension, on Western Civilization…
Dante - The Life and Work of Dante Alighieri
Dante - The Life and Work of Dante Alighieri
Academy Media
Most notable for his vast poem, The Divine Comedy, Dante's work continues to resonate with audiences today. Filmmaker Malcolm Hossick uncovers the Italian poet's background and his influential work from the Renaissance period.
Introduction
Introduction
Episode 1 of The History of Ancient Egypt
The Great Courses
What makes ancient Egypt so interesting? How do we know what we know about it? What can you, as a student, expect from these lectures?
In the Footsteps of Buddha - The Path to Buddha’s Enlightenment
In the Footsteps of Buddha - The Path to Buddha’s Enlightenment
Empty Mind Films
A journey across India walking in the same path that lead to Buddha's enlightenment. Siddhartha Guatama lived 2500 years ago in an ancient land called Maghada, known today as Bihar, the poorest state in India. He was born in Lumbini…
Secrets of the Parthenon
Secrets of the Parthenon
PBS
For 25 centuries the Parthenon has been shot at, set on fire, rocked by earthquakes, looted for its sculptures, almost destroyed by explosion, and disfigured by well-meaning renovations. It has gone from temple, to church, to mosque, to munitions dump.…
Europe on the Brink of the Black Death
Europe on the Brink of the Black Death
Episode 1 of The Black Death
The Great Courses
Begin to contemplate the enormity of the Black Death's impact on the medieval world. As context for the harrowing events to come, take account of the state of medieval society on the eve of the plague. In particular, investigate the…
Emperor's Ghost Army
Emperor's Ghost Army
PBS
In central China, a vast underground mausoleum conceals a life-size terracotta army of cavalry, infantry, horses, chariots, weapons, administrators, acrobats, and musicians, all built to serve China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di, in the afterlife. Lost and forgotten for…
Birth of Humanity
Birth of Humanity
Episode 2 of NOVA: Becoming Human
PBS
In "Birth of Humanity," the second part of the three-part series "Becoming Human," NOVA investigates the first skeleton that really looks like us-"Turkana Boy"-an astonishingly complete specimen of Homo erectus found by the famous Leakey team in Kenya. These early…
Roman Britain and the Origins of King Arthur
Roman Britain and the Origins of King Arthur
Episode 2 of Story of Medieval England
The Great Courses
The collapse of the Roman rule, arrival of barbarian raiders and settlers, and resistance to Germanic immigration serve as a backdrop to tantalizing mystery. Examine the evidence as to whether the unidentified champion who temporarily halted the advance of the…