About this season
Using the latest technological insights, this series sheds new light on how incredible feats of ancient engineering were achieved and how they continue to influence modern-day engineers and shape our world.
Episodes (10)
1. Earliest Arenas: The Colosseum
8.0Aired 8 July 2022 • 51 min
Since their earliest existence in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations stadiums have been regarded as architectural masterpieces and focal points in their surrounding cities but non more so than the Colosseum in Rome.
2. How Gold Changed the World
8.0Aired 8 July 2022 • 51 min
Join us as we dig deep in this episode to uncover how gold was mined and transformed into everyday objects like jewellery and currency and even used to adorn holy temples and statues.
3. History's Deadliest Weapons
10.0Aired 8 July 2022 • 51 min
As the battle distance continued to grow with each new weapon humans put their best minds to work refining and evolving their designs over the millennia to gain the upper hand.
4. Navigating the Globe
9.0Aired 8 July 2022 • 51 min
This episode dives into the pioneering breakthroughs from across the globe that have shaped our ability to travel.
5. Tools & Tech
9.0Aired 8 July 2022 • 51 min
This episode charts the groundbreaking developments that led us to a technologically sophisticated society. Discover the first ever data recording device from over 5000 years ago how weaving created binary code and that electric cars were invented a hundred years earlier than you think they were.
6. Anatomy of the House
Aired 15 July 2022 • 51 min
From living in caves to grand mansions shelter has always been high on the list of our priorities. But form and function varies wildly throughout civilizations. We explore how houses have developed through the ages – from simple tents made from animal hides to the first cities.
7. Extreme Buildings
Aired 22 July 2022 • 51 min
Throughout history our ancestors have always strived to go higher bigger deeper further - and this is reflected in the buildings and structures around our globe. But what secrets can these ancient structures reveal?
8. History's Hidden Marvels
Aired 29 July 2022 • 51 min
This episode explores some of history's most ingenious yet lesser-known engineering solutions. Beginning with a recently uncovered 6300 year old Croatian wooden well that has been termed 'the world's oldest engineering marvel' through to the the Persian yakhchal.
9. Ancient Waterways
Aired 5 August 2022 • 51 min
The ancient ancestors realized that building structures and machines to harness water to provide transport power drainage and irrigation was vital to the success of their civilizations.
10. Building Bridges
Aired 12 August 2022 • 51 min
Migration travel and trade are all key components of human life. Our ancient ancestors had to come up with ingenious solutions and structures to travel freely – over the hills valleys and rivers of our world which can sometimes pose difficult obstacles to cross.