Engineering an Empire - Season 1

The Roman Empire ruled the world for more than five centuries. Although renowned for its military prowess, Rome's real power stemmed from its unprecedented mastery of urban planning and engineering.

Looks at the amazing engineering feats that the Egyptians built in from around 3000 BC to around 1212 BC, including Menes' dam, pyramids, obelisks, and the temple at Abu Simbel.

The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3,000 years of European history. We look how they built structures including Agamemnon's Tomb and the Parthenon.

The story about Greece and its accomplishments during the age of Alexander and the conquest of Persia.

In less than 200 years, the Aztecs transformed from a tribe of nomads into the greatest civilization the New World had ever known. Discover did they achieved such greatness.

Carthage, a remarkable city-state that dominated the Mediterranean for over 600 years, harnessed its extensive resources to develop some of the ancient world's groundbreaking technology.

For centuries this mysterious civilization ruled a huge territory across South America. But by 900 AD it had fallen apart catastrophically.

Architecture and infrastructure enable the rise and fall of the Russian Empire.

The rise and fall of the British Empire.

The rise and fall of the Persian Empire, 580 BC to 320 BC.

The Story of the Qin and Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China. With an emphasis on engineering projects from the building of the Great Levee on the Min, and the building of the Great Wall, and the building of the emperor's tomb with its terracotta warriors. Through those of the Han and the Sui including their building of the 1200 mile Grand Canal linking the Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers. To The Ming Dynasty and the Great Fleet.

The story of France under Napoleon and there accomplishments.

The Byzantines ruled over much of Europe and Asia during the Dark Ages; building stadiums, aqueducts and cathedrals. However, their success became their downfall.

The masters best known for creating the works of art and architecture of the Renaissance were also the greatest military and civil engineers of their time.