Empire Builders

Travel through time to appreciate 3000 years of ancient Egyptian history through the amazing stories of ten of its most famous and spectacular buildings. It's a journey of discovery that will take us to ancient Egypt's greatest pyramids and obelisks, and its most magnificent temples and tombs.

In the seventh century, a great new religion was born and rose up in the deserts of what is now Saudi Arabia. Within 200 years, the religion had spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and even through the Mughal's to India. In this episode of Empire Builders, we explore ten sites that made history as we chart the rise and fall of these great Muslim empires.

In this episode explore sites that made history. We visit Bryzantium's greatest church, the Haghia Sophia in modern day Istanbul, the Crusaders' greatest fortress, and many more. A true showcase of the Venetian Empire at its peak. Together through these great sites, and others we chart the rise and fall of the great Christian empires of Byzantium, the Crusades and Venice.

In this episode we explore the historic legacy of three of Europe's greatest powers, the French, Russian and Habsburg Empires. Their royal palaces, cathedrals, and other great buildings of the 16th to early 20th centuries, are some of the world's most remarkable and spectacular cultural monuments, and memorialize in stone the dramatic history of the rise and fall of Imperial Europe.

In the 18th century, European powers combed the South Seas, searching out unexplored lands, treasures, and people. British ships, commanded by celebrated navigators, such as Captain James Cook, led the way. British sea power led to discoveries that would lay the foundations for its empire. In this episode, we explore 10 sites that made history, and chart the rise and fall of the British empire.

In this episode of Empire Builders we explore the remarkable history of one of the world's most unique and diverse ancient cultures, Japan, traveling through time to explore the past 1500 years of Japan's history through 10 of its most famous and spectacular buildings.