Ancient Discoveries

Modern technology, archaeology, and engineering are used to uncover the real story behind the Siege of Troy, a legend steeped in mystery for thousands of years.

Surprising archaeological finds lead historians to new conclusions about the underrated transportation technologies invented by ancient civilizations.

Great scholars such as Philon, Ctesibius, and Heron are enlisted by temples to create "magic" through a heavy mix of religion and science.

What do the recent discoveries of ancient ships say about the societies that created them and the techniques used in their construction?

The discovery of two massive limestone coffins weighing over 3 tons leads archaeologist Guy Sanders to investigate how they were transported.

Though remembered mostly as a cultured civilization, new evidence reveals that Egypt invested heavily in war technology. Some of these weapons were brand-new inventions and were used in massive battles.

Many of our modern military innovations stem from ancient China. From automated crossbows to siege machines, from gunpowder to a rocket-powering substance, we uncover the secrets of China's most awe-inspiring weaponry.

Explore the remarkable stories behind China's invention of myriad ingenious devices, including cosmic machines, hydraulic hammers, and water-controlled clocks.

Did the ancients actually use robotic devices? Temple doors, a girl servant, roaring lions, and singing birds are just a few of the devices we'll attempt to reconstruct.

Discover the ancient Islamic world's most influential engineer, a prolific writer and talented craftsman named Al-Jazari, as his most important inventions are recreated.

Using the latest scientific techniques, our team of modelmakers, underwater detectives, and elite naval commandos investigate lethal weaponry of the past to solve the greatest mysteries of the ancient world's naval technology.

There's little room for errors at sea. Relive the most extraordinary Naval ambitions of antiquity, from Nero's collapsible death yacht to Greek chemical bomb fire ships.

The science and technology of ballistics dates back thousands of years to the ancient world. Using state-of-the-art forensic techniques, firearms experts reveal the power and range of ancient bullets, rockets, and bombs.

From apocalyptic skyscraper siege machines to ancient landmines and flamethrowers, most of today's lethal weapons have origins in inventions driven by one purpose: war.

New York's towering skyline and world-leading technology have made it the ultimate city, yet breathtaking new discoveries reveal that the blueprints for this megametropolis were in fact laid thousands of years ago.

Learn about deadly weapons such as the staff, ermei, and crossbow; find out if Chi warriors can really kill a man with a single touch; and investigate the ability of Eastern warriors to withstand pain.

Throughout history man has gone to great lengths to develop the technology of torture. Historians, doctors, model makers, and virtual reality artists reveal the startling torture technologies of the ancient world.

What exactly was the ancient weapon engineered to stop an onslaught of bullets, elephants, and cavalry? Watch as experts and archaeological digs reveal new evidence into this invention.

The Romans created a hydraulic mining system that blew millions of tons of material away. Ancient sappers dug under walls to bring a whole castle down. What technologies and techniques made these feats possible?

Explore the ways in which the amazing successes and stunning failures of ancient military engineers have directly affected the weapons and tactics used by the armed forces today.

Might the stories of the Bible have their basis in ancient scientific fact? Discover the tech of the sling that brought down Goliath, learn how fire can be created from water, and watch the Ark of the Covenant levitate.

Our modern landscapes are littered with the remains of ancient superstructures. Now, cutting-edge archaeology reveals that this century's most exciting discoveries might actually lie at the bottom of the ocean.

Assault from the air didn't begin with the era of the airplane. Take a look back at early methods of airborne attack, from medieval kite bombs to ancient China's whistling arrows.

Uncover the ingenuity of the ancient engineers of the Far East, whose innovations would take shipbuilding to new heights and create some of the largest and most fearsome navies of the ancient world.

Exactly as they do today, ancient commandos fought deep behind enemy lines in some of the harshest terrains know to man. Discover the secrets and triumphs of these daring and oft-outnumbered elite forces.