Athena (Firm)
Description
Throughout the wild highlands and war-torn plains of Afghanistan and Central Asia lie traces of the ancient world. It was here, 2,300 years ago, that icon Alexander the Great became the first European to rule the East. In a major turning point in history, he crossed into Asia in 334 BCE, crushed the Persian Empire, and discovered a highly developed eastern civilization. In a six-part series, David Adams explores the footprints of an ancient world,...
2) Empire
Description
Written and presented by English broadcaster, journalist, and author Jeremy Paxman, this richly detailed documentary follows the rise of the British Empire. At its height, the small island nation ruled over a quarter of the world's population. Examining what is often considered a dark stain on British history, it shows how greed and a lust for power marginalized numerous groups across the empire's vast expanse.
3) Wild life
Description
Best-known for his portrayal of the cantankerous title character in the global phenomenon Doc Martin, fan favorite Martin Clunes shows a softer side in these five documentaries about animals. Filmed all over the globe, these programs are a fascinating peek at some of the world's most beloved (and some of the most endangered) creatures.
Description
Joanna Lumley always dreamed of one day seeing the mighty Nile. This trip of a lifetime marks a dream come true. Traveling by fishing boat, ferry, cruise ship, plane, train, car, and Zapcat, Joanna follows the world's longest river from mouth to source. The 4,000-mile journey takes her from the city of Alexandria to the verdant forests of Rwanda, from the heat of the Sudanese desert to the highlands of Ethiopia, through multiple countries and across...
Description
The early Middle Ages have been dismissed as a step backwards for civilization-a barbaric time in which warfare and conquest eclipsed learning and progress. But were the Dark Ages really so bleak? Art historian Waldemar Januszczak says no, and then takes us on an artistic journey back to this much-maligned epoch to reveal the evidence. He travels the world, finding beauty and refinement where one might have expected only brutality and destruction....
Description
Bordered by the banks of the Nile River and the edges of the Sahara, Egypt developed one of the world's earliest advanced civilizations. For millennia, after the pharaohs fell and sand reclaimed the Sphinx, the mysteries of this ancient people have fascinated scientists and laymen alike. Four documentaries about the pyramids, mummies, and mysteries of ancient Egypt. Programs included: Secrets of the Pharaohs; Oasis of the Golden Mummies; Secrets of...
Description
Beloved actress Joanna Lumley is a gracious guide on this absolutely fabulous Greek adventure. Lumley travels across Greece, relating the history of iconic sites including the Acropolis, Delphi, Mount Olympus, and Crete with charm and wit. Bonus includes: Twelve-page viewer's guide with an interview wih Lumley, a timeline of Greek history, and artilces on Lord Byron in Greece and the Muses and a biography of Joanna Lumley.
Description
What is it really like to own a castle in England? Crisis at the Castle pulls back the tapestries to reveal the dilemma many aristocratic inheritors face today: costly renovations, constant repairs, fading public attention, and crippling debt. Sudeley Castle, Burton Court, and Kelburn Castle have stood for centuries, but will they survive the next generation?
Description
Historian Dr. David Starkey hosts this four-part series exploring the impact of the British monarchy on renowned composers over the centuries. He traces British musical tradition from the reigns of Henry V through Elizabeth II. Includes performances at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the chapel of King's College at Cambridge, and more. Includes music by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Henry Purcell, George Frederic Handel, Edward Elgar, William...
Description
Six hundred years ago England was torn apart by a series of bloody battles for the throne. England's most powerful families went to war against each other in a violent and deadly blood feud known as the Wars of the Roses. Across four episodes, acclaimed historian Dan Jones' unique storytelling is combined with high-end scripted drama to reveal the true story of the Wars of the Roses: a story of human frailties, rivalries, forced hands, and blind luck...
Description
Recounts how the struggle between North and South, long defined by battles like Gettysburg, Antietam, and Bull Run, was actually dependent on events in the West. Although often overlooked, the western theatre saw some of the conflict's bloodiest encounters, such as Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chickamauga, and featured iconic leaders.
16) The code
Description
Author and Oxford University professor Marcus du Sautoy sets out to solve mathematical mysteries in an engaging and accessible BBC documentary. Du Sautoy travels from Chartres Cathedral to Grand Central Station in search of the mysterious hidden code that can unlock the very laws of the universe.
19) Art of the heist
Description
Investigates the high-profile thefts of some of the world's greatest pieces of art. From Gustav Klimt's portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer to Edvard Munch's The Scream and even the Mona Lisa, these and other iconic masterpieces have been coveted by the criminal world. The fourteen-part series delves into the background behind the audacious burglaries and the authorities₂ efforts to apprehend the crooks and restore the masterpieces to public viewing.