History's first empire rose out of a hot, dry landscape, without rainfall to nourish crops, without trees or stones for building. In spite of all this, its inhabitants built the world's first cities, with monumental architecture and...

Before the sun never set on the British Empire; before Genghis Khan swept the steppe; before Rome extended its influence to encircle the Mediterranean Sea; there was ancient Assyria. Considered by historians to be the first true empire,...

If you think scientists lead boring, monotonous lives, you must not know about Tycho Brahe. The 16th century astronomer who accurately predicted planetary motion led quite a dramatic life -- complete with a kidnapping, a sword duel and...

King Arthur has risen again and again in our collective imagination, along with his retinue of knights, Guinevere, the Round Table, Camelot, and of course Excalibur. But where do these stories come from, and is there any truth to them?...

Stories of discovery and invention often begin with a problem that needs solving. Summoned by the king to investigate a suspicious goldsmith, the early Greek mathematician Archimedes stumbles on the principle that would make him famous.

For 10,000 years, humanity suffered from the scourge of smallpox. The virus killed almost a third of its victims within two weeks and left survivors horribly scarred. But Simona Zompi commends the brave souls - a Buddhist nun, a boy, a...

Shakespeare's tragedies...were tragic. But they had some jokes. They also changed the way tragedies were written. Characters like Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear had tragic outcomes, but they were sympathetic characters in a lot of ways....

Explore William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, “Hamlet,” a play about conspiracy, deception and the tragic consequences of indecision. -- “Who’s there?” Whispered in the dark, this question begins a tale of conspiracy, deception and...

Can you imagine a party where every movement and every visual detail were governed by a complex system of rules and procedures? For centuries, such rituals were commonplace for European nobility. And while they've gone out of fashion, we...

What can some of literature's most famous heroes teach us? From the epic hero (like Beowulf) to the tragic hero (like Oedipus), each has something distinctive to share. April Gudenrath describes the many faces of the fictional hero --...

In 1974, farmers digging a well near their small village stumbled upon one of the most important finds in archaeological history _ vast underground chambers surrounding a Chinese emperor's tomb that contained more than 8,000 life-size...

In which John presents Mesopotamia, and the early civilizations that arose around the Fertile Crescent. Topics covered include the birth of territorial kingdoms, empires, Neo-Assyrian torture tactics, sacred marriages, ancient labor...

New ReviewHaving arrived in Heorot, Beowulf and his men get ready to face the terrifying Grendel when he attacks.

New ReviewTheseus journeys to Crete to fight the Minotaur in the Labyrinth and save his people.

New ReviewWith help from the Gods, Perseus sets out fulfil his destiny as a great hero. He fights Medusa to save his mother, encounters a sea monster and faces a wicked king.

New ReviewAlice meets the Hatter, Hare and Dormouse for a confusing tea party. She finds her way into the beautiful garden for a game of croquet with the Queen of Hearts.

New ReviewWe take a look at Wales, with our presenter Ethan. Learn about places to visit, important cities, mountains and rivers, common languages, hear the story of Saint David and more!

New ReviewWe take a look at Northern Ireland, with our presenter Kathryn. Learn about places to visit, important cities, mountains and rivers, common languages, hear the story of Saint Patrick and more!

New ReviewWe take a look at England, with our presenter Kat. Learn about places to visit, important cities, mountains and rivers, common languages, hear the story of Saint George and more!

"The Tempest" by William Shakespeare is a captivating play that delves into themes of magic, power, and the nature of storytelling. Through the character of Prospero, Shakespeare explores the parallels between the world of the play and...

"The Tempest" by Shakespeare is a thought-provoking play that delves into themes of revenge, forgiveness, power, and illusion. Through the use of doubling and mirroring, Shakespeare challenges the audience to reflect on moral ambiguity...

In this video James Parsons reads James I's treatise on the divine right of kings, a fantastic window into the mindset that led to his son causing the English Civil War and losing his head.

In this video Steven Franklin looks at the role of Prince Rupert in the English Civil War, an ideal case study for considering the importance of the individual to the course of some historical events.

In this video Simon Blake reads the articles of impeachment that set out the king's case against 'the five members': John Pym, John Hampden, Denzil Holles, William Strode, and Sir Arthur Hesilrige. This was a key milestone on the road to...