The year is 432 BCE. As dawn breaks over Athens, Pheidias is already late for work. He is the chief builder for the Parthenon — Athens' newest and largest temple— and when he arrives onsite, city officials accuse him of embezzling gold...

Along the Nile River, in what is now northern Sudan, lay the ancient civilization of Kush. Though they were once conquered by a powerful neighbor, the kings and queens of Kush would go on to successfully challenge two of the most...

In the vast sweep of history, even an empire can be forgotten. In this wide-ranging talk, Gus Casely-Hayford shares origin stories of Africa that are too often unwritten, lost, unshared. Travel to Great Zimbabwe, the ancient city whose...

Aliens have invaded ancient history: they've cropped up in humanity's past through popular television and movies, displacing facts with absurd yet commonplace beliefs like "aliens built the pyramids." Archaeologist Sarah Kurnick...

Socrates, one of the founding fathers of Western philosophical thought, was on trial. Many believed he was an enemy of the state, accusing the philosopher of corrupting the youth and refusing to recognize their gods. But Socrates wasn't...

Adam Savage walks through two spectacular examples of profound scientific discoveries that came from simple, creative methods anyone could have followed -- Eratosthenes' calculation of the Earth's circumference around 200 BC and...

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...

There are many different approaches to modern yoga— though most forms have three core elements: physical postures, breathing exercises, and spiritual contemplation.This blend of physical and mental exercise is widely believed to have a...

Explore the breathtaking Aegean Region of Turkey, known for its stunning coastlines, rich ancient history, and vibrant local culture. In this video, we take you through the highlights of Turkey’s Aegean coast, from the ancient ruins of...

In this video, travel back to ancient Egypt to discover the Lighthouse of Alexandria—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built on the island of Pharos over 2,000 years ago, this towering lighthouse guided ships safely into the...

In this video, you’ll learn about Mayan hieroglyphics—an ancient writing system used by the Maya people. The Maya lived long ago in parts of Mexico and Central America. They built big cities, pyramids, and were great at math and science....

Meet Nebuchadnezzar II, one of the most famous kings of ancient Babylon! In this episode, we’ll learn about how he built grand temples, towering walls, and maybe even the Hanging Gardens—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World....

Did the Hanging Gardens of Babylon really exist? In this video, we explore the mystery and legend behind one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Learn what ancient writers said about these amazing gardens—said to be built high on...

Travel back to ancient Mesopotamia and discover the mighty Babylonian Empire! In this episode, you’ll learn about King Hammurabi, who created one of the world’s first written law codes. We’ll explore the city of Babylon, with its...

The original sad man, Sophocles mined the depths of human misery to leave his mark on the theatrical world. While the two time general almost certainly drew upon his experiences in war, his works are not completely depressing. They also...

Greatest Ancient Dynasties - Version 2.0

What was the Secret Weapon of the Carthaginian Empire?

Battle of Adrianople, 1205 AD Emperor Kaloyan, the Roman Slayer

In ancient times, the ultimate tourist guide was the Seven Wonders of the World, a list of seven sites that were supposedly wonderful to behold. The subsequent centuries weren't kind to those wonders, however, and most of them no...

In ancient times, the most powerful and influential cities in the world were located primarily in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Places like Alexandria, Jericho, and Carthage once were thought to be as influential or powerful as...

Battle of Yarmouk, 636 AD (Part 1/2) Storm gathers in the Middle East

The idea for a consolidated list of wonderful man-made monuments came from writers in the ancient world. For example, Antipater of Sidon, a Greek writer from the 100s BCE, wrote a poem celebrating some of the known world's most...

Follow Explorer Society secret agents Cleo and Lance to ancient Egypt in seek of the pharaoh's missing scepter.

Simple history about Francesco Petrarcha, who became known as the Father of the Renaissance. Great for kids or those who want a brief overview of the Italian writer and philosopher.