excellent historical documentaries, bbc, itv, pbs, lucy worsley, neil oliver, dan snow, joann fletcher, gus casely-hayford, bettany hughes, kate williams, janina ramirez, dan jones, terry jones, suzannah lipscomb, david starkey, ken burns, michael wood
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- StarsLucy WorsleyJustin ChampionRonald HuttonWomen life in 17th century.
- StarsLucy WorsleyA.N. WilsonDoug GrantLucy Worsely explores how our idea of romance has developed since the Georgian period
- StarsDavid StarkeyTony CottrellGerard HaylingA history of the English Crown from AD 400 to today.
- StarsTerry JonesPeter BarberFaye GetzTerry Jones hosts this series that looks at the real facts about the Middle Ages and its roots.
- StarsJoseph CampbellBill MoyersGeorge LucasMythologist Joseph Campbell presents his ideas about comparative mythology and the ongoing role of myth in human society.
- DirectorJanelle BalnickeDavid KennardStarsPeter DonatJoseph CampbellRichard AdamsJoseph Campbell discusses the nature of the hero in mythology.
- DirectorMaxine HarrisSheldon RochlinStarsJoseph CampbellThrough archival excerpts from his finest filmed lectures interwoven with exquisite images and evocative music from around the world, renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell takes us on a journey of transcendence and illumination, a trip through the mythological symbols and sagas left by our ancient forebears. What is revealed en route is "mankind's one great story," the grand drama played out by all cultures on all continents since time immemorial. This saga "projected" on the screen of the universe is the mythic adventure that became Campbell's "Sukhavati," what he passionately embraced as his life's work, his place of bliss.Created by Maxine Harris and Sheldon Rochlin, with the enthusiastic support of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, this hypnotic and mesmerizing film is a deeply personal, almost spiritual, portrait of Campbell, told in his own words, in his twilight years, at the summit of his career and the apex of his intellectual powers. Through it, this great American thinker is still "joyfully participating in the sorrows of the world."
- StarsLiam NeesonVictor Davis HansonNigel SpiveyA documentary, narrated by actor Liam Neeson, that chronicles the rise and fall of the civilization of ancient Greece.
- StarsSigourney WeaverTwo thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people on earth lived and died under Roman law. The Empire was a multi-cultural melting pot that still has relevance.
- StarsToby Leonard MooreBettany HughesEdith HallThey were an extraordinary people born of white rock and blue sea. They invented democracy, distilled logic and reason, wrote plays to plumb the deepest recesses of the soul, and captured the perfection of the human form in athletics and art. Quite simply, the Greeks created our world. ¶ Today, of course, Greece conjures very different images: civic unrest, financial meltdowns, long ATM lines. But as its ancient history attests, strife and discord are often incubators for greatness. From their beginnings as hunter-gatherers in harsh, unforgiving landscapes; to surviving the worst collapse in human history; to facing off against the greatest empire the world had ever known, the Greeks would have to overcome incredible odds to pave the way for the modern West. ¶ In National Geographic's landmark event series "The Greek's", historians and archaeologists, actors and athletes, scientists and artists launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient Greeks' journey - not just to better understand their past, but to discover how their legacy illuminates our present, and will shape our future. The story of the Greeks is the story of us.
- StarsBettany HughesApostolos C. DoxiadisShantum SethBettany Hughes travels to India, Greece and China, profiling Buddha, Socrates and Confucius, the three greatest thinkers of antiquity.
- StarsRichard MilesSimon Russell BealeValerio Massimo ManfrediAn Ancient society is examined, but not just from a historical point of view. The researchers try to present and approach it as if they lived in that Classical or earlier culture, religion etcetera.
- StarsLyall B. WatsonMichael SheenJames D'ArcyA docu-drama covering the rise and the fall of the Roman world, including the establishment of strong individual rule by Julius Caesar and the rebuilding of Rome under Nero.
- DirectorNick Gillam-SmithStarsLucy WorsleyBeatrice BehlenShaun ColeToday, few people's clothes attract as much attention as the royal family, but this is not a modern-day paparazzi-inspired obsession. Historian Dr. Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces reveals that it has always been this way. Exploring the royal wardrobes of our kings and queens over the last four hundred years, Lucy shows this isn't just a public fascination, but an important and powerful message from the monarchs. From Elizabeth I to the present Queen Elizabeth II, Lucy explains how the royal wardrobe's significance goes far beyond the cut and color of the clothing. Royal fashion is, and has always been regarded as a very personal statement to reflect their power over the reign. Most kings and queens have carefully choreographed every aspect of their wardrobe; for those who have not, there have sometimes been calamitous consequences. As much today as in the past, royal fashion is as much about politics as it is about elegant attire.
- DirectorNick Gillam-SmithStarsLucy WorsleyJane SpoonerAnna WhitelockLucy Worsley gets into bed with our past monarchs to uncover the Tales from the Royal Bedchamber. She reveals that our obsession with royal bedrooms, births and succession is nothing new. In fact, the rise and fall of their magnificent beds reflects the changing fortunes of the monarchy itself.
- StarsNeil OliverScott GlynnJames FlemingA documentary charting the birth and growth of the Scottish nation.
- StarsBettany HughesRay LonnenMargaret RobertsonA history of the ancient Spartans, featuring historian Bettany Hughes as presenter and narrator.
- StarsNeil OliverVikings is a documentary series written and presented by Neil Oliver charting the rise of the Vikings from prehistoric times to the empire of Canute.
- StarsNeil OliverAlison SheridanFrancis PryorNeil Oliver tells the epic story of how Britain and its people came to be over thousands of years of ancient history - the beginnings of our world forged in ice, stone, and bronze.
- StarsSean Cameron MichaelScot CooperPaul HampshireSeries looking at history through the eyes of ordinary people. Rulers and royals, lords and ladies have all had their say down the centuries, what were the last 1,600 years like for everyday Britons?
- StarsMichael WoodDocumentary series retracing the journey of Alexander the Great across sixteen countries.
- StarsSimon SchamaMichael KitchenSamuel WestA comprehensive historical survey of the British Isles.
- StarsRobert BartlettThe story of England's longest ruling dynasty, starting with Henry II and ending with Richard III.
- StarsAndrew Graham-DixonDocumentary of architecture on ghothic buildings, the makeup and the evolution to the perpendicular (British) gothic architecture that we see much of in Britain today.
- StarsHelen CastorHistorian of the medieval period, Helen Castor, presents an in depth and insightful series covering England's early Queens, from the High Middle Ages with Eleanor and get daughter-in-law Eleanor of Aquitane, through the Late Middle Ages with Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou and finishing with Lady Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
- StarsBettany HughesSimon GoldhillHannah DawsonHistorian Bettany Hughes retraces the lives of three great thinkers whose ideas shaped the modern world: Karl Marx, Frederick Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud.
- StarsMichael WoodAndreas BirnbaumPeter BieringerThis documentary tells the story of the Spanish expeditions in the early sixteenth century that conquests America. This 4-part series Michael Wood (historian) travels in the footsteps of the Spanish expeditions of Hernán Cortés whose conquests was one of the most cataclysmic events in Modern American history.
- StarsMichael WoodCarenza LewisChris DryerIn each episode, English historian Michael Woods's team sheds an original light on a major period in British history. However, instead of a merely descriptive approach, they attempt to report as if on the present and stress links with our age.
- StarsLucy WorsleyJanet HartleySimon DixonBritish historian Lucy Worsley travels to Russia to investigate the 300-year reign of the Romanov dynasty.
- StarsDavid McCulloughSam WaterstonJulie HarrisA comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.
- StarsKeith DavidKatharine PhillipsTom HanksA seven-part series focusing on the many ways in which the Second World War impacted the lives of American families.
- StarsGwyneth PaltrowSam WaterstonMichael PottsA biographical film about The United States' influential and profoundly enigmatic Founding Father.
- StarsLucy WorsleyNathen AminHistorian Lucy Worsley reveals how some of the biggest moments in British History are actually a concoction of fibs and stories which have been manipulated by whoever was in power at the time.
- StarsLucy WorsleyNicholas AgnewClaire CooperHistorian Lucy Worsley visits the time of Henry VIII and tells the story of his six successive wives.
- StarsMichael WoodChris BailyMichael Wood visits places and interviews experts all over India to cover the great chapters of the subcontinent's history.
- StarsMichael WoodTao Tao LiuFrank ChingMichael Wood embarks on a great historical adventure, exploring the stories, people and landscapes that have helped create China's distinctive character and genius over four thousand years.
- DirectorGeoff WonforStarsLen GoodmanJools HollandLucy WorsleyThe three presenters show how Blackpool stayed open as there were several thousand servicemen and women billeted here during WW2. Morale was important to the war effort.
- StarsAndrew Graham-DixonAndrew Graham-Dixon travels to 3 areas of Spain to examine and interpret the various art of this country. He also has other series about art, one of German art and the other in Sweden.
- StarsAlastair SookeVito ZagarrioLeo StevensonAlastair Sooke takes an in-depth look at the art of the Roman Empire in an attempt to refute the claims that Rome didn't produce any art of originality during its
- StarsDan JonesDragos OniseiAdina EadyDocudrama series with author Dan Jones. It follows the period from control freak king Henry II to the tyrant king Richard II.
- StarsKeith DavidWynton MarsalisGary GiddinsA survey of the musical form's history and major talents.
- StarsPeter CoyoteGeorge F. WillGeoffrey C. WardA documentary that weaves together the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics.
- StarsPeter CoyoteN. Scott MomadayMurphy GuyerStephen Ives' "The West" is a PBS 4-Video Series co-produced by Ken Burns: - "Death Runs Riot" 85 min. - "Fight No More Forever" 85 min. - "Ghost Dance" 58 min. - "The People" 82 min.
- CreatorNick WardStarsTony RobinsonAlistair MoffatKate WilliamsTony Robinson embarks on spectacular walks through some of Britain's most historic landscapes in search of the richest stories from our past.
- StarsDan JonesJames Oliver WheatleySteffan BojeUsing a combination of documentary and drama, historian Dan Jones tells the story of the War of the Roses - the 30 year civil war between the House of York and House of Lancaster that saw the crown change hands seven times.
- StarsNed KellyJulian RichardsBirthe Kjølbye-BiddleThe Vikings were an ambitious, daring and frightening people who left an indelible mark on the British psyche. Yet archaeology has revealed very little about their time in Britain and even less about what happened to them afterwards. Archaeologist Julian Richards finds new evidence about what really happened during the dramatic period when Vikings roamed the seas around Britain. And in a ground-breaking genetics research project designed specially for the BBC series, internationally renowned geneticist, Professor David Goldstein, sets out to answer some of the most intriguing questions about the Vikings. Samples taken from around 2,000 people in Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and Northern Europe have been processed and the results are revealed during the series.
- StarsLucy WorsleyAmanda VickeryPatricia Whittington-FarrellFinding secret doors add and rooms.
- DirectorSebastian BarfieldRachel JardineStarsLucy WorsleyDavid StarkeyPhilippa GlanvilleDocumentary. Lucy Worsley and David Starkey celebrate the 500th anniversary of Britain's finest surviving Tudor building, Hampton Court.
- StarsOwen TealeRuth GoodmanPeter GinnThe series follows historians and archaeologists as they recreate the everyday farm life from the age of the Stuarts; they wear the clothes, eat the food and use the tools, skills and technology of the 1620s.
- StarsGeraldine JamesRuth GoodmanPeter GinnHistorian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Peter Ginn and Tom Pinfold turn the clock back 500 years to the early Tudor period to become tenant farmers on monastery land.
- StarsRuth GoodmanPeter GinnTom PinfoldHistorian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Peter Ginn and Tom Pinfold learn about living in the medieval world and help rebuild a castle.
- StarsStephen NoonanPeter GinnRuth GoodmanIn this unique project, historian Ruth Goodman as well as archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn immerse themselves in the life of the Victorian farmer as he would have lived on the Acton Scott Estate.
- StarsRuth GoodmanPeter GinnStephen NoonanVictorian Farm Christmas looks into the lives of 19th century farmers and shows you how to make traditional gifts, food, games and decorations.
- DirectorDavid GrubinStarsRichard GereBlair BrownThe Dalai LamaAfter 400 BC, a new philosophy was born in South east Asia, generated from the ideas of Buddha, a mysterious Prince from Nepal who gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree.
- StarsPeter CoyotePete HamillCatherine Gilbert MurdockThe story of the American activist struggle against the influence of alcohol, climaxing in the failed early 20th century nationwide era when it was banned.
- StarsStephen NoonanNick BarberRuth GoodmanLife in a 19th-century pharmacy is re-created in this four-part documentary. Historian Ruth Goodman, professor Nick Barber and doctorate student Tom Quick discover how people attempted to cure common ailments beginning at the time of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837, when remedies such as leeches, oil of earthworm and opium potions were commonly used.
- StarsAnnie GrayAlex LanglandsHarpreet BauraFour professional bakers leave their modern businesses behind to experience what their profession was like in the past as they bake their way through the Victorian era.
- StarsRuth GoodmanPeter GinnAlex LanglandsIn this 12-part documentary series of Edwardian Farm, archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn and historian Ruth Goodman go back in time to the early 1900s to live the lives of Edwardian farmers for a full calendar year.
- DirectorChris MitchellStarsDominic FrisbyMarc MeltonvilleRuth GoodmanA group of historians and archaeologists prepare a Tudor feast as it would have been over 400 years ago, including the use of period clothes, recipes from the era, food sourced from the land and the absence of modern conveniences.
- StarsJohn SimmPeter GinnRuth GoodmanWartime Farm, is an eight-part British historical docuseries in which the running of a farm during the Second World War is reenacted. First broadcast on BBC Two on 6 September 2012.
- StarsMichael PortilloAlex HutchinsonLindsay SuttonMichael Portillo travels along the railway networks of Great Britain and Ireland, referring to a Victorian guidebook written by George Bradshaw as he describes how the destinations have changed.
- DirectorThierry BinistiStarsVinciane MillereauSamuel TheisJérôme PoulyDocudrama about the life of Louis XIV nicknamed "the Sun King", the King of France who ran a glamorous court, expanded the borders of France, loved women and parties and built an incredible palace for himself - the Versailles.
- CreatorTim TaylorStarsTony RobinsonPhil HardingJohn GaterA group of archaeologists have 3 days to discover historical artifacts in different sites around Britain.
- StarsTerry JonesPeter HeatherPope Benedict XVITerry Jones challenges the received Roman and Roman Catholic notion of the 'barbarian'.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughAlec BaldwinChadden HunterFocuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
- StarsLily ColeVincent KerschbaumSuzannah LipscombDocu-drama starring Lily Cole as a young Elizabeth I, featuring dramatic reconstructions of key moments in her life. Presented by historians Suzannah Lipscomb and Dan Jones.
- StarsRichard EastonDylan BakerColm FeoreThe story of the renowned American polymath.
- StarsMichael WoodGregory DoranRay FearonMichael Wood tours the English locations important to William Shakespeare as he explores the playwright and poet's life and work.
- DirectorRosie SchellenbergStarsHelen CastorLucy WorsleyLucy Worsley untangles Louis XIV's complex world of court etiquette, fashion and feasting, while court politics expert Helen Castor delves into the archives and unpicks the Machiavellian world that Louis created.
- StarsJonathan RossHayao MiyazakiHideaki AnnoA six-part TV series focusing on Japanese films, TV shows, anime, manga & culture, hosted by Jonathan Ross. Interviews include those with Lone Wolf and Cub comic writer Kazuo Koike, director Takeshi Miike, and many more. Jonathan Ross visits the set of the current Ultraman TV series, allows two former Godzilla actors to stomp model buildings, and speaks with Japan's top animators. Clips include those from Ringu, Spirited Away, Audition, Godzilla pics, some of Akira Kurosawa's films, Babycart movies and many more. Manga artist Junko Mizuno, who is interviewed, provides cartoon characters that are used throughout the series.
- DirectorJon MorriceStarsCerys MatthewsThe Mabinogion is a collection of 11 ancient folk tales that is considered Wales' most important contribution to European literature. Cerys Matthews explores the fascinating history of the collection and how it influenced fantasy such as J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
- StarsSamantha BondCerys MatthewsAlice RobertsGreat Expectations, Jane Eyre, and Great Expectations are just a few of the classic works of fiction that we all know and love. But how well do we really know them? In this series, presenters revisit original manuscripts and diaries of the authors themselves to reveal new insights into classic literature.
- DirectorPaul TilzeyStarsJanina RamirezTim AyersSarah BrownHistorian Dr Janina Ramirez unlocks the secrets of a centuries- old masterpiece in glass, the East Window at York Minster - the largest medieval stained-glass window in the country
- DirectorAndy RobbinsStarsJanina RamirezKim SiddornDavid SymondsArt historian Dr Janina Ramirez reveals the codes and messages hidden in Anglo-Saxon art.
- DirectorJon WillersStarsJanina RamirezAn explanation of the allegorical meaning behind Spenser's epic Renaissance poem
- DirectorRosie SchellenbergStarsTrish DawsonClarissa Dickson WrightStephen SmithWriter Broadcaster and Newsnight arts correspondent Stephen Smith finds out what it took to get ahead at the court of Richard II.
- DirectorLinda SandsStarsMark AikenAngus BarrCraig EdwardsA documentary on the lives of the Bronte family produced to mark the 200th anniversary of Charlotte's birth.
- DirectorGareth WilliamsStarsJuliet BarkerAnn DinsdaleLyndall GordonSheila Hancock investigates the genius of the Bronte Sisters.
- StarsRobert BartlettProfessor Robert Bartlett examines the extraordinary expansion and unchecked ambition of the Normans, and shows how they transformed the history of Europe.
- DirectorJames HayesStarsJulian RichardsJustin BlakeSimon JamesA look at Hadrian's Wall, one of the unsung wonders of the Ancient World.
- StarsLaurence SpellmanNick SampsonDavid StarkeyDr David Starkey examines the history and motives that shaped the most infamous king of England. This series is beautifully researched and offers some new insights into life and times of Henry VIII.
- DirectorGiulia ClarkStuart ElliottStarsThomas PennBarry CookShawn CunninghamAuthor Thomas Penn takes an extraordinary journey into the dark and chilling world of the first Tudor King, Henry VII. From his victory over Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, to his secret death and the succession of his son Henry VIII, the film reveals the ruthless tactics Henry VII, and how he used them to win and hold onto the ultimate prize, the Royal Throne of England.
- StarsDan JonesChristophe LombardiJay DeeHistorian Dan Jones explores the millennium of history behind six of Great Britain's most famous castles: Warwick, Dover, Caernarfon, the Tower of London, Carrickfergus, and Stirling.
- StarsSimon DelaneyDave SwiftMarcus SeoigeThe history of Irish castles throughout history. A terrific look at the majestic history of Ireland presented with the gifted storyteller style you would expect from the Irish perspective.
- StarsAmanda ForemanNguyen Thi Thanh HòaIan HodderThis series uncovers key stories of women that have made and changed human history from 10,000 BCE to the present day.
- StarsJago CooperArchaeologist Dr Jago Cooper reveals the extraordinary history of some of South America's ancient civilisations.
- StarsSuzannah LipscombEmma ConnellJack HawkinsThis two-part docudrama shows the love affair between King Henry VIII of England and his second wife, Anne Boleyn; presented by historian Dr. Suzannah Lipscomb.
- StarsJago CooperÁlvaro MarencoFrom the people who met Christopher Columbus to the culture that inspired the Mayans; from the vast temple pyramids to the world's oldest ball-game, Lost Kingdoms Of Central America reveals the true character of a stunning continent through its archaeology, art, people and landscapes.
- StarsGus Casely-HayfordAbune PaulosStephanie Wynne-JonesA paucity of written records means we know less about Africa's ancient history than almost anywhere else on Earth. Cultural historian Dr Augustus Casely-Hayford uses culture, artifacts and traditions to explore that history.
- DirectorIan A. HuntStarsJoann FletcherPerhaps unassumed by most, the ancient Egyptians were unique in their attitude to sexual equality. Women held the title of 'Pharaoh' no fewer than 18 times. There were also female doctors, tutors, prime ministers and priestesses in Egypt long before anyone thought possible.
- DirectorTimothy CopestakeStarsBettany HughesAntonio AlmagroMoussa AouniThis program contends that the popular perception of the Muslim occupation of Spain toward the end of the first millennium is largely wrong. The eighth century Muslim invasion of the Iberian Pennisula was largely welcomed by the locals and rejuvenated the area with advanced technology, agriculture and a construction boom. This program describes these innovations. All this changed in the eleventh century when the regional government fragmented. That set the stage for the Christian invasion and the Islamic fundamentalist resistance leading to more of a civil war than a holy war that decimated the region with corruption, destruction and exile.
- StarsJoann FletcherChris NauntonGlenn GodenhoJoann Fletcher presents the extraordinary story of Ancient Egypt, from its beginnings to the great pyramid builders and on, to the last of the pharaohs.
- StarsMichael ScottRosie WylesEdith HallClassicist Dr Michael Scott presents a three-part series looking at the power, influence and history of Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, through the prism of one of its most important cultural spaces - the theatre.
- DirectorPaul ElstonStarsAndrew Wallace-HadrillLuca BondioliLuciano FattoreOn the 24th August 79 AD, the eruption of Vesuvius eradicated the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Exactly what forces did our planet unleash to kill so many people? Using modern science, the mysteries of the devastation are revealed.
- DirectorNick Gillam-SmithStarsBettany HughesSalima IkramColin ClementBettany Hughes goes to Alexandria, Egypt, too look at one of the great cities of history. Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was once one of the intellectual and culture hubs of the world. It was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the immense Library of Alexandria.
- DirectorFaris KermaniStarsBettany HughesDinar BoontharnMario CeeIn the documentary Bettany Hughes visits 7 sites important to Buddism: Bodh Gaya, India; Bodanath Stupa, Nepal; Temple of The Tooth, Sri Lanka; Wat Pho Temple, Thailand; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Giant Buddha, Hong Kong; and Hsi Lai Temple, LA.
- StarsRichard ChamberlainIsao MachiiMichael AuslinIn the 15th century, the Tokugawa dynasty took power in Japan and held it for 300 years. They created an elegant yet rigid society bound by tradition and enforced with brutality. Things cannot remain the same for very long.
- StarsLen GoodmanLucy WorsleyDarren RoystonA professional dancer (Goodman) and historian (Woolsley) tell the story of social dancing through history replete with the costumes, music, settings of the times, and a demonstration of the dance.