Ancient civilizations have always fascinated historians and the public. Because of how different the modern world is, we tend to marvel at how people thrived in the past, yet they had minimal resources. Today, the monumental achievements and cultural legacies of those who lived in the past continue to awe us, thanks to the presence of numerous docuseries.
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Docuseries about ancient civilizations help us understand some of the most complicated aspects of human history. They combine thorough research, interviews, never-seen-before footage, dramatic re-enactments, and commentary-filled storytelling to transport history lovers into old times.
So, what should you watch if you want to immerse yourself among the Romans or the Egyptians? The following productions offer enjoyable history lessons.
10 Engineering an Empire (2005 - 2007) Close
Peter Weller has done a lot ever since he starred in Robocop, including serving as the presenter of Engineering an Empire. Pilloried for his timber-like stiffness while playing the law enforcement cyborg, Weller here pokes fun at his personality and shows an easygoing, humorous side while covering Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Macedonia. Carthage, Maya, and Persia, among others.
✕ Remove Ads Ancient Engineering Required More Creativity
Stories like this are definitely what documentary filmmaking is for. Weller has a master's degree in Roman and Renaissance art from Syracuse University, so he presents the docuseries informatively and authoritatively. While the likes of the Burj Khalifa and the Eiffel Tower might seem more complex to build, we learn that making Rome's sewage system and the Egyptian pyramids' walls required more creativity. But how did the builders pull it off? Were there architectural and engineering schools? No spoilers.
Stream it on The History Channel
9 Lost Cities with Albert Lin (2019) Close ✕ Remove Ads
Dr. Albert Lin, an award-winning National Geographic journalist and technologist, uses Lidar and 3D scanning to lead us through unexcavated civilizations in Lost Cities with Albert Lin. Whether he's attempting to locate the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Israel or the fabled city of El Dorado in Colombia, he ventures into the remotest of locations with the zeal of a conquistador.
Lin Is Thorough
Lin's unblinking chronicle of forgotten worlds brilliantly emphasizes the stark differences in how modern and ancient societies function. You will marvel at how much effort it took to do a simple thing like cooking a meal. No little detail is left unexpanded, and we wouldn't expect anything less from a professional who has done this kind of work many times before.
Stream it on Hulu
8 Ancient Apocalypse (2022 - 2024) Close ✕ Remove Ads
British writer Graham Hancock is the poster guy for pseudoarchaeology and pseudoscience. In Ancient Apocalypse, he suggests that there was an advanced civilization during the last ice age which perished as a result of meteor impacts around 12,000 years ago. The survivors then passed on their knowledge to hunter-gatherers, forming some of the earliest known civilizations.
Bold and Daring
Understandably, scientists and historians are skeptical of Hancock, but you can't help but admire his pluck and persistence as he tries to prove his points. Is he right? We can't be sure, but he is interesting. The second season even features arguably the greatest modern action star: Keanu Reeves. His agent probably didn't like the idea, but John Wick is never afraid of anyone. For those ambitious enough to dive in, this offbeat chronicle will move you in many unexpected ways.
Stream it on Netflix
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7 The Celts (1987) Close
Marshaling an impressive array of updated ancient statistics, fresh footage, and other kinds of visual aids that are as indisputable as they are bewildering, Irish journalist, Frank Delaney, takes us through the origins, growth, and impact of Celtic culture in Great Britain and throughout the rest of Europe. With two seasons of five episodes each, there is enough to enjoy in The Celts.
✕ Remove Ads A Detailed Look Into a Little-Known Group
The BBC docuseries takes a fascinating look at the Celtics' complex legacy. We see their idealistic beginnings, relive their glory days, and understand their challenges. A few other talking heads round out the wonderful portrait and update it, with Delaney himself addressing the stickiest queries about the quixotic quests of the people covered in the series. And you'll enjoy the theme song by Irish singer Enya, who became a star after the show aired.
6 Empires: The Greeks - Crucible of Civilization (2000) Close
It would be criminal to talk about ancient empires without talking about Greece. Thankfully, PBS blessed us with Empires: The Greeks - Crucible of Civilization. In this astute, eye-opening docuseries, the versatile Liam Neeson lays out impossible-to-ignore trivia about Greek culture from as early as 500 B.C. to the cataclysmic wars that caused everything to crumble.
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Essentially a television version of a PowerPoint presentation, The Greeks - Crucible of Civilizationis both a teach-in and a reminder that even though the empire died, no other region of the world made greater contributions to philosophy than this one right here. Beautifully photographed, and devoid of whiz-bang spectacle, this engaging series delivers everything you might want to know about the Greeks.
5 The Spartans (2004) Close
The Spartans is a steady journey down Spartan history, from the Trojan War to the fall of Athens to the Persians. This is perhaps the most detailed account yet of this courageous and eloquent society's rise and fall, featuring never-heard-before details and wonderful re-enactments.
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Narrated with unparalleled zeal and wit by Bettany Hughes, this docuseries gives the Spartan era a powerful immediacy, evoking its barbaric cruelty while acknowledging its triumphs. The re-enactment sequences, usually weak in these kinds of productions, are perfect in this enthusiastic ode to some of history's liveliest people. At the same time, the journey into Spartan ruins and locales makes for a visual feast.
4 Mary Beard's Ultimate Rome: Empire Without Limit (2016) Close
British Classics expert Professor Mary Beard has always worked on a wide, provocative canvas. She first made a splash with BBC's Weird Thoughts, but nowadays, she is more into Rome. In Empire Without Limits, she attempts to find out what made the Romans special and how they were able to build empires so quickly and massively.
✕ Remove Ads Rome Never Ceases to Be Fun
This bold docuseries is as gorgeous and as the magical empire it pays tribute to. While touching on dual identities and cultural influences that emerged as a result of the civilization's expansion, the docuseries gives us an invigorating dose of ancient politics and regional history to boot. But above all, it's Beard's elaborate commentary that truly fascinates. Here you will find plenty that dramas about the Roman Empire never reveal.
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Stream it on Prime Video
3 Egypt's Golden Empire (2002) Close
Like Rome, it's easy for anyone to assume that they know enough about Egypt. But do they? Egypt's Golden Empire proves that the details are excessive and worthy of years of study. The docuseries covers the period from 1560 B.C. to 1080 B.C., when the Egyptian Empire reached its peak. Despite the boom, there was plenty of chaos and uncertainty.
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A captivating addition to the PBS library, Egypt's Golden Empire vividly brings to life the historical details and this groundbreaking empire. With great sensitivity to culture, the show constructs a fluid timeline of all the events and handles the subject with understated reverence. Employing a treasure trove of research material and commentary, the docuseries fascinates in a way none other like it has managed.
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For anyone in search of a docuseries that fosters a continued interest in their favorite subjects, look no further.
2 Epic Warrior Women (2018) Close ✕ Remove Ads
Epic Warrior Women introduces us to the various iconic warrior women who existed in different times but might have been forgotten by history. Have you heard about the Agooji of West Africa, or Ardala, a Celtic warrior captured and traded into a gladiator school in the 2nd century? Prepare for many incredible tables about women with weapons.
As Badass as the Famed Male Warriors
In the show, an impressive array of talking heads discuss feminism, the tenacious legacy of the forgotten heroines, and the need to reevaluate history. Appropriate for the current era, the docuseries reminds everyone of how poorly women were treated in ancient times. Still, you will be fascinated by how a good number of them stood up for themselves and mapped the trajectory of their lives.
Stream it on Paramount+
1 Terry Jones' Barbarians (2006) Close ✕ Remove Ads
Terry Jones' Barbarians challenges a major notion. Jones argues that the Celtic society wasn't as uncouth and underdeveloped as presumed. It was quite an advanced society and, in some ways, even better than Rome. It's a bold claim, but the creator of the docuseries goes to great lengths to back up his claim.
Is Rome Overrated?
The pulse-pounding, high-energy, docuseries constitutes a fascinating Roman-era time capsule and a detailed discussion about the integrity of historical accounts. It unapologetically sides with the eye-popping culture of the Barbarians, and ropes in a few experts, including the famous Professor Barry Cunliffe, to confirm that this is no conspiracy theory.
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