Spark of Civilization • 2017 • episode "S1E1" • Origins: The Journey of Humankind

60:12

In the final episode, Waldemar looks towards the north of Europe. The Carolingians saw themselves as successors to Rome, reflected in their art. Elsewhere, the Vikings were constructing long ships with intricate decoration and marking their territory with powerful rune stones. And on the British Isles, the Irish and Anglo-Saxons were creating unique works of manuscript illumination and remarkable jewellery.

Part 4 • The Dark Ages: An Age of Light • 2012 • History

25:15

Dramatic Sea Rescues Some of the Twentieth Century's most famous examples, with emphasis on how the rescue services have operated in the most appalling conditions. When the "unsinkable" Titanic struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage, she went down long before rescue ships could reach her. Those who survived owed their lives to the brave, self-sacrificing efforts of some of the crew and passengers on board. Shipbuilding, sea communications and rescue capabilities have advanced since then, but as the ill-fated voyages of the Morro Castle, Andrea Doria, Estonia and others show, disaster can strike at any time. And when it does, heroic efforts often mean the difference between survival...and a watery grave. Disasters at sea can be due to war, negligence or more often the force of nature. The twentieth century is littered with examples of sea disasters, from the negligence that sunk the unsinkable Titanic on her maiden voyage, to the tragedies of war and the weather. However, if the cause of the disaster was bad weather, the rescue services then have the most difficult task of responding to the SOS in the most appalling conditions.

19/20 • The True Action Adventures of the Twentieth Century • 1996 • History

22:00

When ordinary people desire the luxuries of the rich, ingenuity and innovation come together to take history in a new direction. From the obsession with silk to the fall of Constantinople, our desire for luxury has shaped our history and evolution.

2/12 • Mankind Decoded • 2013 • History

53:41

The finale episode examines an ancient civilization unlike any other, that of the Indus Valley. Rather than imposing order through war or religion, it relied on the free flow of trade. The exchange of goods promoted wealth, co-operation and trust.

4 • First Civilizations • 2018 • History

59:26

An international team of scientists began a 3-year exploration of the Black Sea in search of evidence of the ancient empires that sailed their ships into unknown waters in pursuit of trade.

S1E1 • Expedition: Black Sea Wrecks • 2018 • History

50:12

Most people describe the Vikings as a people who were dedicated exclusively to raiding the European coasts in search of gold and silver, but in this series we are going to delve deeper into what these Scandinavian sailors were really like. We will follow the Vikings on a journey through the centuries and see how they transformed populations, politics, trade, culture, religion and societies in general. In this first episode we will discover why they left Scandinavia to become pirates.

S1E1 • The Last Journey of the Vikings • 2019 • History