Engineering An Empire

China's emperors mobilized peasant armies to accomplish engineering feats unparalleled in human history, only to be consumed by vanity and greed, then stripped of power by the people it had ruled.

At its peak, the British Empire covered one quarter of the Earth's land mass. Through the centuries, the rulers of this enormous powerhouse used extraordinary engineering feats to become an industrial and military titan.

Religious and cultural tolerance was a hallmark of Persian rule, but the rivalry between Persia and Athens led to a 30-year conflict that shaped the world we live in today.

With ruthless might and supreme ingenuity, the Byzantines ruled over vast swaths of Europe and Asia for more than a thousand years. Learn how the engineering feats of this great empire eventually betrayed it.

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.

Centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, France stood on the edge of utter disaster. From the ashes emerged one of the greatest military strategists in history: Napoleon.

The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history, including philosophers, Olympian gods, the beginnings of democracy, and great conquering armies.

The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history, from philosophers and Olympian gods to great conquering armies and the beginnings of democracy.

In less than 200 years the Aztecs used military campaigns and technology to transform themselves from a band of wandering nomads to the greatest civilization the New World had ever known.

What began as a modest population of hunters and gatherers expanded into more than forty flourishing city-states. Where did the Maya come from and what catastrophes caused the collapse of this innovative civilization?

At the height of its power, the Russian Empire stretched across 15 times zones and made up one sixth of the entire world's landmass. But the empire's infrastructure was built at an enormous price.

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.

Egyptian temples, fortresses, pyramids, and palaces redefined the limits of architectural possibility and served as a warning to all of Egypt's enemies: The world's most advanced civilization could accomplish anything.

The thirst for power shared by all Roman emperors fueled an unprecedented mastery of engineering and labor. Learn about the engineering feats that set the Roman Empire apart from the rest of the ancient world.