Ancient Civilizations

From the fertile crescent to the Roman Empire, the pyramids to Peru, these films document the rise — and fall — of human civilization.

    • 52m
    • 96%

    Once considered to be the poorest region of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan is one of the most closed-off countries in the world. Today, oil and gas have made the country wealthy.

    • 51m
    • 97%

    Beneath the volcanic pumice and ash that buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii nearly 2,000 years ago, Italian archaeologists have uncovered a modern city street—complete with "fast food" roadside taverns—and a chariot that some call the "Lamborghini of the ancient world."

    • 3 episodes
    • 93%
    • 4K

    This is the extraordinary story of how silver shaped the history of our world, from the 16th century to the present day.

  • Original
    • 52m
    • 95%
    • 4K

    An unprecedented archaeological discovery of hundreds of sacrificed children in Peru unlocks the secrets of one of the most powerful and mysterious civilizations in South American history.

  • Original
    • 52m
    • 95%
    • 4K

    Gjellestad, Norway. Archaeologists made the discovery of a lifetime: a 20-meter-long, 1200-year-old Viking funeral ship. Who is hiding in the grave? Is Gjellestad one of the oldest Viking settlements? What can this coffin tell us about the daily lives, beliefs, and traditions of the Vikings?

  • Original
    • 3 episodes
    • 94%
    • 4K

    Cleopatra may be the most famous ancient monarch, but she is only one in a long line of Egyptian queens, spanning 3,000 years of history.

  • Original
    • 3 episodes
    • 96%
    • 4K

    Take a deep dive into the great armed conflicts that made the Normans one of the world’s most powerful dynasties.

    • 4 episodes
    • 96%

    Their ships plied the seas and rivers of half the globe. They were bloodthirsty warriors and fine craftsmen. They were the Vikings.

  • Original
    • 1h 36m
    • 97%
    • 4K

    For the first time in 70 years, archaeologists have uncovered new areas of ancient Pompeii. With exclusive access to the dig, see how the latest artifacts and DNA science are changing history and discover the real stories of what happened to the unfortunate souls who didn’t escape the city gates.

    • 38m
    • 94%

    Journey to the royal tombs of Egypt and explore the history of ancient Egyptian society as told through the mummies of the past.

    • 4 episodes
    • 96%

    A four-part series produced by IWC Media which reveals the pre-colonial history of some of Africa’s most important kingdoms.

  • Original
    • 3 episodes
    • 97%

    Built at strategic points, and fitted with impressive fortifications, fortresses are thought to be impenetrable.

    • 2 episodes
    • 97%

    Images of castles have always conjured up stories of adventure, opulence, and power. Yet, what was life really like behind their walls?

  • Original
    • 10 episodes
    • 96%

    Examining the most incredible architectural constructions of antiquity, those that inspired our engineers and helped build the modern world.

  • Original
    • 10 episodes
    • 96%

    A fascinating look at how modern day structures and engineering technologies have been inspired by ancient discoveries.

    • 47m
    • 85%

    From ancient caves and catacombs in Israel and Italy, to enigmatic passages in the gospels, evidence shows that Jesus had 12 female disciples who also played a critical role in the birth of Christianity. These indispensable women preached, healed, baptized and even bankrolled the movement.

    • 3 episodes
    • 97%

    This series explores three cities that today are home to the vestiges of the industrious Roman civilization.

  • Original
    • 6 episodes
    • 97%
    • 4K

    Homicide detective Rod Demery and scientist Professor Turi King investigate history’s most intriguing murders to find long-lost killers.

    • 52m
    • 94%

    Druids, the mysterious wizards of the Celts, have always fascinated the world. They are an integral part of ancient literature, as heroes of Irish legends and stars of modern fantasy worlds. But who were they really?

  • Original
    • 3 episodes
    • 96%
    • 4K

    The story of humans is often driven by events from the prehistoric past. How did physics, geology, biology, chemistry shape our history?

    • 4 episodes
    • 94%

    International scientists use the latest archaeological technology to scan the Nile river. What secrets will they find?

    • 55m
    • 96%

    Just because a mystery is 4,500 years old doesn't mean it can't be solved. Scientists are on a mission to "see through" the Great Pyramid of Giza and determine, without moving or destroying a single stone, if there are hidden chambers and passages inside. What will they find?

  • Original
    • 3 episodes
    • 95%
    • 4K

    The Celts. A society that thrived over 2000 years ago and continues to fascinate us today. In this series, we uncover their untold story.

    • 4 episodes
    • 95%
    • 4K

    Three centuries after the first discoveries, Egypt still reveals new buried treasures, and its inexhaustible myths continue to exist.

    • 4 episodes
    • 92%
    • 4K

    State-of-the-art technology meets archaeology! This 4-part series will shed light on the past with a level of detail never seen before.

  • Original
    • 51m
    • 98%

    The Ancient Egyptians built canals and irrigation systems to harness the Nile’s life-giving waters, allowing them not just to survive but to thrive in the desert—ultimately producing the glory of the pyramids and the golden treasures of the Pharaohs.

  • Original
    • 48m
    • 96%

    China has been at the forefront of engineering for centuries. From the Great Wall that defined and protected its borders, to crossbows, clocks, and gunpowder, its engineers left a legacy that still resonates today.