Tag: Timeline Pre-Columbian

Before 1492 A.D.

The Story of India Episode 1 Beginnings

The world’s largest democracy and a rising economic giant, India is now as well known across the globe for its mastery of computer technology as it is for its many armed gods and its famous spiritual traditions. But India is also the world’s most ancient surviving civilization, with unbroken continuity back into prehistory. Like other great civilizations – Greece or Egypt for example, over the millennia it has enjoyed not just one but several brilliant golden ages in art and culture. Episode 1 Beginnings – Through ancient manuscripts and oral tales Wood charts the first human migrations out of Africa. He travels from the tropical backwaters of South India through lost ancient cities in Pakistan to the vibrant landscapes of the Ganges plain. Wood also attempts to re-create soma, an ancient drink recorded in the Rig Veda.

Ancient Apocalypse Mystery of the Minoans

Throughout the ages, civilizations have risen up and then disappeared. Traditionally, the disappearance of certain ancient civilizations has been left to the theologians and historians to explain. Now scientists have entered the fray. In this series geologists, archaeologists and climatologists explain their findings. Ancient Apocalypse seeks to explain how human achievements were destroyed by the forces of nature. Episode Mysteries of the Minoans – A look at how the Minoan civilization, situated on the Mediterranean island of Crete, was wiped out 3,500 years ago by a volcanic eruption on the nearby island of Thira.

Queen of Sheba Behind the Myth

The Queen of Sheba is one of the most alluring names in history, synonymous with the exotic and erotic, but until now her real story has remained elusive. Who was she? Did she have a child by King Solomon of Israel? And how did her nation grow so powerful, only to vanish beneath the sands of time? Produced to accompany a major British Museum exhibition, the film gained exclusive access to the excavation of the Queen of Sheba’s temple in the arid heartland of Yemen, to unveil the enigmatic riddle of this mysterious queen.

Decoding the Past Prophecies of Israel

Decoding the Past is a series that “decodes” the past by looking for unusual, paranormal, and mysterious things written about throughout history that may give clues as to what will happen in the future. Prophecies Of Isreal – The Tanakh of the Jews is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible equivalent to the Old Testament to Christians. Within the 24 books of the Tanakh (or Mikra as it was called during the period of its recording) are astounding predictions of the future. Many of the prophets who authored or appeared in the scriptures prophesied about the fate of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Examine the prophecies and chronicle the birth death recent resurrection and possible future of Israel.

The Truth Behind The Lost Ark

In this series Take a forensic look at the world’s most popular and enduring mysteries from the “lost city” of Atlantis to UFOs to the Loch Ness monster. Episode The Lost Ark – The Ark Of The Covenant, down through the ages it has inspired terror and obsession. This gold encrusted chest held the 10 commandments and gave Moses a direct hotline to God. With it the Israelites conquered the Holy Land and they built it a temple. Then in perhaps the greatest Biblical riddle ever the Ark Of The Covenant simply vanished from scripture and for hundreds of years it has enthralled knights, archaeologist, madmen, and filmmakers. Can modern scholarship tell us where it is now or explain the Arks legendary powers? At Jerusalem’s heart lies a hill called Mt Mariah. Now the site of the dome of the rock. Before that Jesus healed the blind and the sick there and so Christians call it holy ground as well. 1000 years before that Solomon built the original temple on this mount to house the mysterious object called the Ark Of The Covenant, then the centerpiece of the Jewish religion. How the Ark got there and how it vanished from there are riddles that invite obsession.

Ancient Apocalypse Sodom and Gomorrah

Throughout the ages, civilizations have risen up and then disappeared. Traditionally, the disappearance of certain ancient civilizations has been left to the theologians and historians to explain. Now scientists have entered the fray. In this series geologists, archaeologists and climatologists explain their findings. Ancient Apocalypse seeks to explain how human achievements were destroyed by the forces of nature. Episode Sodom and Gomorrah – The Bible describes how Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in a storm of fire and brimstone. Could the inspiration for this story come from a natural apocalypse around the Dead Sea in the Middle East?

Stonehenge Decoded

Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious prehistoric sites known to us and for centuries its purpose has been the source of intense speculation. Now in our ground breaking special, British archaeologist Professor Mike Parker Pearson unearths surprising evidence supporting a radical new vision of Stonehenge. His theory suggests that the stone circle was at the centre of one of the largest prehistoric religious complexes in the world. Parker Pearson and his team uncover the first evidence of a 4,500 year old lost settlement with at least 300 houses, it is the largest Stone Age settlement ever found in northern Europe. At its centre lie the remains of a near replica of Stonehenge built of wood. He believes that Stonehenge was built to house the spirits of the dead while the wood circle represented the living. Further evidence suggests thousands of people gathered here at the summer and winter solstices. Through CGI, dramatic recreations and narration by Donald Sutherland, we transport you to the prehistoric world of Stonehenge and provide startling revelations about this archaeological mystery.

Engineering An Empire Egypt

Leaving the dusty history books behind, Engineering an Empire takes to the streets – as well as the sewers, mountaintops, jungles and beyond – to trace the magnificent physical achievements and technologies of past societies. Engineering an Empire circles the globe to re-examine history’s most magnificent civilizations by surveying the architectural and engineering triumphs they left behind. CGI graphics and location footage reanimate the ancient streets, while expert interviews trace the rise of each empire and the technological achievements that paved the way for their gravity defying masterpieces. Host Peter Weller, RoboCop actor and lecturer at syracuse University, travels around the world and, assisted by cutting edge computer renderings and note perfect dramatizations, far back in time to chronicle the innovation and architectural brilliance that gave birth to modern civilization. Episode Egypt – Twenty five hundred years before the reign of Julius Caesar, the ancient Egyptians were deftly harnessing the power of engineering on an unprecedented scale. Egyptian temples, fortresses, pyramids and palaces forever redefined the limits of architectural possibility. They also served as a warning to all of Egypt’s enemies – that the world’s most advanced civilization could accomplish anything. Djoser’s Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Senusret’s Nubian Superfortresses, Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple at Dier el-Bahari, Akhenaten’s city at Amarna, and the temples of Ramesses the Great at Abu Simbel.

Time Life Lost Civilizations Episode 2 Ancient Egypt

Time Life’s Lost Civilizations combines cutting edge digital effects technology (for 1995) with powerful dramatization. Dazzling spectacles re-create rituals and events, original location cinematography in 25 countries. Computer graphics make lost worlds live again! Episode 2 Ancient Egypt Quest For Immortality – Discover the enduring legacy of the pharaohs in the magnificent riches of their tombs and among the fragile relics of their mummies. Explore the ancient Egyptians’ fascination with death and their quest for immortality.

Ancient Inventions City Life

Join Monty Python’s Terry Jones on a tour of the ingenuity of our ancestors. Take a humorous yet factual look at inventions we think of as unique to modern times when really they have been around for centuries and many even longer. Some of the amazing discoveries include: automatic doors, first designed over 2000 years ago, accurate pregnancy tests, a regular feature of ancient Babylon, and tanks, actually devised by the Assyrians in 8 B.C. Clearly the ancient world was every bit as inventive as our own. Episode City Life – It took Christopher Columbus over eight weeks to cross the Atlantic. Nowadays, we can do it in less than eight hours in a jumbo jet. What would Columbus or Archimedes have made of it? Well, it doesn’t mean they were less intelligent than you or me. They were probably more intelligent. And maybe all this progress that modern man seems to be making is partly an illusion. Perhaps there are even things we can learn from the science and technology of ancient times. Take the city, for example. Cities seem so much the product of modern technology and yet, in fact, they are one of the most ancient of all inventions.

Terry Jones’ The Story of 1

The story of the number one is the story of Western civilization. Terry Jones goes on a humor filled journey to recount the amazing tale behind the world’s simplest number. Using computer graphics, “One” is brought to life, in all his various guises, in Story of 1. One’s story reveals how celebrated civilizations in history were achieved, where our modern numbers came from and how the invention of zero changed the world forever, and saved us from having to use Roman numerals today.

Kingdom of David The Saga of the Israelites Episode 1 By the Rivers of Babylon

Kingdom of David The Saga of the Israelites tells the epic story of the Jews and the creation of the world’s first and most profoundly influential monotheistic religion. The stories of the patriarch Abraham, the liberator Moses, the poet-king David and his son Solomon all come to life in the dramatic tale of loss and triumph that shaped humanity’s basic moral struggle for more than three millennia Episode 1 By the Rivers of Babylon – In 586 B.C., the Babylonians lead almost all that remains of the tribe of Judah – the Israelites – to exile in Babylon. Only a few generations earlier, the northern tribes of the Israelites were taken into exile and vanished forever. Now the Judeans, too, seem destined to disappear. They fight back, however, by writing a book. Using Judean stories from the past to explain present disastrous situations, the book becomes the earliest edition of the most influential work in history the Bible. This episode introduces the early and profoundly influential figures of Judaism Abraham, who is the first to recognize the concept of one God, Moses, who receives the Ten Commandments from God, and David, whose sins teach the Israelites that no one is above the law of God.

Time Life Lost Civilizations Episode 3 Aegean Legacy of Atlantis

Time Life’s Lost Civilizations combines cutting edge digital effects technology (for 1995) with powerful dramatization. Dazzling spectacles re-create rituals and events, original location cinematography in 25 countries. Computer graphics make lost worlds live again! Episode 3 Aegean Legacy of Atlantis – Follow the trail of clues that lead from the ancient myths of the Aegean world to their real life counterparts. Experience the lives of the legendary heroes as they are rediscovered in the ruins of this ancient Mediterranean world.

Ancient Inventions War And Conflicts

Join Monty Python’s Terry Jones on a tour of the ingenuity of our ancestors. Take a humorous yet factual look at inventions we think of as unique to modern times when really they have been around for centuries and many even longer. Some of the amazing discoveries include: automatic doors, first designed over 2000 years ago, accurate pregnancy tests, a regular feature of ancient Babylon, and tanks, actually devised by the Assyrians in 8 B.C. Clearly the ancient world was every bit as inventive as our own. Episode War and Conflict – Julius Caesar never used a mobile phone, Socrates never consulted a digital watch, and Alexander the Great never flushed the lavatory. But that doesn’t mean they were stupid. Archeologists tell us the human brain is the same size now as it was 60,000 years ago, and our ancestors were every bit as intelligent as we are today, so we shouldn’t assume that the scientists and inventors of the past have nothing to teach us. In fact, when it comes to weapon’s technology none of it is as new as we think it is. Guided missiles, flame throwers, chemical weapons, tanks, even the theory of the atom bomb, they’re all ancient inventions.

The History of Devil

Lucifer, Beelzebub, The Beast, Satan. He has been called many names and taken many strange different forms over the ages. So where does the concept of the traditional evil come from? The History of the Devil goes back to the ancient Middle East, even before the Old Testament to find the roots of Satan. In Zoroastrianism it was believed that the all knowing good God was Ahura Mazda, the one Uncreated, Creator, and Ahriman was his antithesis, the God of chaos, the dark and evil one.

Legacy Origins of Civilization Episode 1 Iraq Cradle Of Civilization

As the world approaches the 21st century, this new series hosted by Michael Woods and produced in 1991, reminds us that other nations and cultures prospered for hundreds or even thousands of years. Now all that remains is the legacy of their civilizations, present and influential in our own. Shot on location on four continents, Legacy takes a different viewpoint from other series that concentrate primarily on the the Western view of history. Visiting China, India, Egypt, the Middle East, Greece and Meso-America, this series traces the rise of both Asian and western civilization. Iraq The Cradle of Civilization – After thousands of years as a hunter/gatherer, man built the first cities 5,000 years ago on the banks of the Euphrates in Southern Iraq. Civilization began. City life transformed the human race with the glorious cultures of Mesopotamia such as Ur and Babylon.

Time Life Lost Civilizations Episode 5 China Dynasties Of Power

Time Life’s Lost Civilizations combines cutting edge digital effects technology (for 1995) with powerful dramatization. Dazzling spectacles re-create rituals and events, original location cinematography in 25 countries. Computer graphics make lost worlds live again! Episode 5 China Dynasties Of Power – Witness the glory of ancient China’s greatest rulers and the secrets of their giant tombs. Learn the ruthless military tactics and weapons technology of these all powerful rulers and discover how the building of the Great Wall would unify that nation.

Ancient Warriors Series 1 Episode 6 Soldiers of Pharaohs

Each half hour episode looks at a major fighting people or force and charts the reasons for their rise to dominance and subsequent fall. The show explores the motivations of ancient soldiers, as well as how they lived, fought, trained, died, and changed the world. It also uses battle re-enactments and computer graphics to demonstrate military strategy. This series from the Discovery Channel is especially good for the lesser known groups of warriors. Episode 6 Soldiers of the Pharaoh – Hieroglyphics depict Egyptian chariots. In the 17th century B.C. the ancient kingdom of Egypt was suddenly overthrown. “Unexpectedly from the region to the east invaders from an obscure race marched in confidence across our land. They burned our cities ruthlessly raised to the ground the temples of the gods and treated all the natives with cruel hostility.” Humiliated by the defeat the Egyptian Pharaoh vowed to reclaim his country. Out of the desert sprang an army of warriors burning with vengeance.

The History of God

Based on the best selling book by Karen Armstrong, A History of God descents into the ancient roots of Abrahamic religions and analyses today’s three major monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This searching, profound comparative history of the three major monotheistic faiths fearlessly illuminates the sociopolitical ground in which religious ideas take root, blossom and mutate. Armstrong also acknowledges that the idea of a personal God can be dangerous, encouraging us to judge, condemn and marginalize others.

Legacy Origins of Civilization Episode 4 Egypt The Habit Of Civilization

As the world approaches the 21st century, this new series hosted by Michael Woods and produced in 1991, reminds us that other nations and cultures prospered for hundreds or even thousands of years. Now all that remains is the legacy of their civilizations, present and influential in our own. Shot on location on four continents, Legacy takes a different viewpoint from other series that concentrate primarily on the the Western view of history. Visiting China, India, Egypt, the Middle East, Greece and Meso-America, this series traces the rise of both Asian and western civilization. Egypt The Habit of Civilization – Ancient Egypt was the first great nation on earth and endured for thousands of years. The god like Pharaoh was the rock on which this civilization was built. Ancient traditions come together in the Moslem culture that is the Middle East today.

UFO Files Season 1 Episode 3 UFOs In The Bible

UFOs in the Bible was a special about possible paranormal explanations for events that occurred in the bible. Beliefs in UFOs and extraterrestrial has caused some Biblical scholars to reassess the stories in the Bible. The success of the special played a large role in the creation of the UFO themed documentary series UFO Files. Gives almost 100% screen time to those arguing that UFOs are real and that angels and appearances of God in the Christian Bible are aliens and UFOs. This documentary has been shown as an episode in both UFO Files and Decoding The Past series.

Ancient X-Files The Philosopher’s Stone and The Lost Ark

Ancient X Files travels around the world to solve some intriguing riddles. Each story is a piece of detective work by an expert trying to make sense of some puzzling ancient artifact, to find the truth behind some extraordinary legend, to discover the origins of a bizarre myth or to establish the authenticity of a venerated religious relic. Join intrepid investigators as they delve into some of mankind’s most enduring mysteries. Episode Philosophers Stone the Lost Ark – Examining the medieval myth of the Philosopher’s Stone, a Holy Grail-type relic which supposedly held the key to alchemy and immortality. Many noted alchemists and adventurers searched obsessively for the artefact hoping to learn its powerful secrets, a quest which allegedly drove some to madness and others to celestial encounters. It’s one of the most coveted artefacts of the Bible: a gold-encrusted chest containing the Ten Commandments. Can modern scholarship explain the awful powers of the Ark of the Covenant and tell us how it vanished and where it is today?

The Holy Grail

Searching for traces of a mysterious age. Could a sword with magical powers really have existed? Was there really a camelot? Who was King Arthur and the knights of the round table? Where was the legendary grail castle located? The first step in the journey for the holy grail brings us into the mysterious world of the celts. They came to europe from the east. With them they brought their culture, rituals and tradition of burying a prince with his belongings as a gift to the gods. The celts believed in resurrection of the dead. A relief on a bronze vessel from the 1st century B.C. shows a prince placing dead warriors into huge drinking vessels to bring them back to life. This documentary argues the celtic magic vessel as the origin of the medieval holy grail story.

Mega Disasters Noah’s Flood

Mega Disasters also released as series Prehistoric Megastorms. Mega Disasters explores potential catastrophic threats to individual cities, countries, and the entire globe. The two “mega-disasters” of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 inspired the series and provided a reference point for many of the episodes. Excepting only two shows devoted to man-made disasters, the threats explored can be divided into three general categories: meteorological, geological, and cosmic hazards. Episode 2 Noah’s Great Flood – 8000 years ago the Ice Age ended. Then a superflood bursts in a lush forest known now as the Black Sea.

Ancient Graves Voices of the Dead

Through the lens of modern science the grave has become a window on the past. Today we can learn intimate detail about how the ancients lived and how they died. Bit by bit their portraits emerge from flesh, bones and DNA. The unearthing of the past reveals the tangled roots ofvour family tree. But some see only the desecration of our ancestors. Through this documentary listen to the voices of the dead. Ancient human grave sites speak volumes to those who listen. These haunting human “time capsules” have been uncovered all over the world. Some even reach a certain level of fame, The Ampato maiden sacrificed on an Andes peak. The Alpine Ice Man, the oldest frozen mummy ever found. England’s 9,000 year old Cheddar Man. Others’ stories are known only to the ages, like a cache of elaborately adorned 7,000 year old mummies unearthed in Chile, and the thousands of Egyptian mummies actually burned as train fuel in the 19th century. Modern science now allows us to explore these human treasures without destroying them, and connects us all to the secrets of the ancient dead.