The Secrets to Civilization

The Secrets to Civilization (2021)

EndedDocumentary show

Modern science reveals the environmental forces that have shaped human history. This series explores how cutting-edge science is changing the way we think about the ancient past - restoring the environment to its place as a key driver of human history. Throughout the series, top historians and archaeologists share with us how new collaborations with the scientific community, and a host of new data on the state of our planet, is providing them with fresh insights on how climate, disease and vulcanism have affected the course of human history.

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Scheduleevery Thursday (52 min)

Last Episode

Empire and Epidemics
Season 1Episode 352 min

Empire and Epidemics

The Roman empire grew and prospered unprecedented by combining exemplary organization, technological advances and military skills with fortunate climate in its 'Golden Age', virtually unifying the Mediterranean world under its 'Pax Romana'. Then it even coped with a major pandemic, possible small pocks, wiping out several over its about 50 million inhabitants. Having stabilized its expanse towards Rhine and Danube, it suffered the effects of worse climate, causing major Germanic and other migrations from the east and north and weakening it as did the much worse pest pandemic, which lay demographic waste to whole cities and regions and kept reemerging all the feudal age, while political stability was shredded by rival generals engaging in coups and civil wars. Medical ignorance -even some counterproductive therapy, despite some progress, both record by physician Galen- causes some great achievements like the baths and sewer systems, to facilitate the spread of germs and diseases, especially in growing cities, most of all the capital, first in Europe to surpass a million people until Victorian London, dependent on huge food imports and unable to drain he marshes breeding malaria mosquitoes.

Sept. 16, 2021

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S01E03Empire and EpidemicsSept. 16, 2021
S01E02Cities and EmpiresSept. 16, 2021
S01E01Bronze Age CatastropheSept. 16, 2021
View all episodesView all seasons

Cast

Alice Roberts

Alice Roberts

voices herself
Christopher Naunton

Christopher Naunton

plays himself
Lewis Dartnell

Lewis Dartnell

plays himself
Eric H. Cline

Eric H. Cline

plays himself
View all cast

Characters

Narrator

Narrator

voiced by Alice Roberts
Archaeologist / Egyptologist

Archaeologist / Egyptologist

played by Christopher Naunton
Astrobiologist / Professor of Science Communication, University of Westminister

Astrobiologist / Professor of Science Communication, University of Westminister

played by Lewis Dartnell
Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, George Washington University

Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, George Washington University

played by Eric H. Cline
View all characters

Also known as

  • Secrets of Civilisation (United Kingdom)

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