Lost Civilizations

The ancient Egyptians were obsessed with divinity, death and the afterlife, and reincarnation. In this opening episode, host Christy Kenneally visits Saqqara, south of Cairo, where the Egyptians learned the technique of mummification and built the first pyramid - an early prototype for the grand monuments of the Giza pyramid complex. He journeys on to explore the ruins at Abydos, Karnak and Luxor, arriving finally at the island of Philae - the site of the last hieroglyphics and a little-known shrine to Egypt's lost gods.

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.

Enter the Colosseum alongside the gladiators and their foes as they prepare for battle. This episode re-creates the glory of Rome at the zenith of its power and explains how the Romans conquered the western world. Learn the mistakes that led to the Empire's chaotic collapse.

Uncover the hidden history of Africa's great coastal kingdoms and its mysterious counterparts in the heartland of Zimbabwe and southern Africa. For years, this legacy has been denied---only now can the true story be revealed.

Follow the tale of glory and tragedy as a young boy---the reincarnation of the Tibetan God-King---witnesses the collapse of a timeless culture. This episode explores a genuine Shangri-la and its struggle to survive in a hostile contemporary world.

Witness the conquest of an Inca ruler at the pinnacle of his power. Follow Inca roads into the past and explore the secrets of their ancestors---the Moche, the Nazca, and the Paracas---whose legacies inspired the greatest South American empire ever.

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.

Witness the dark rituals of human mutilation as the Maya rulers draw their own blood to offer to the gods. This episode reveals Maya culture at its peak---while its cities matched the sophistication and power of those in Europe in AD 800, this civilization declined suddenly a century later---leaving behind questions and enigmas.

Explore the land of the Bible and see evidence of the world's oldest civilizations. Go back to the dawn of civilization, following clues that lead to the Garden of Eden.

Enter the extraordinary lives of the classical Greeks at the height of their civilization. Examine the conflicting forces of passion and reason that shaped the art and ideas of the western world.