Civilizations: Rise and Fall

When new Roman emperor Honorius ascended to the throne in 395 AD, he inherited a system of government that built one of the most remarkable civilizations in history. For over 400 years, the Roman Empire ruled a vast territory. But a series of shocks and threats collide in a perfect storm that will see the weakened city of Rome fall to foreign invaders for the first time in 800 years.

In 51 BC, Cleopatra became Queen, and Pharaoh, of Egypt. She faced a crumbling dynasty plagued by infighting, betrayal, war and political chaos. Determined to preserve Egypt’s independence, she forged bold alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, two of the most powerful men in history. But her reign marked the end for the Ptolemaic dynasty and three millennia of Pharaonic rule in Egypt.

Under the leadership of Emperor Moctezuma, the great Aztec civilization reached its zenith. The jewel in its crown was the beautiful city of Tenochtitlan, a melting pot of extraordinary arts and culture. But Moctezuma’s empire was fragile. His fierce grip on power created many enemies. The arrival of the Spanish in 1519, under Hernan Cortes, would prove the most disastrous moment in Aztec history.

For centuries, Japan had been cut off from outside influence. During that time, much of the rest of the world made extraordinary leaps forward in science, industry and military technology, while Japan remained a feudal medieval society. At the heart of this feudal system were the samurai. But when American steamships arrived on Japan’s shores, the days of the samurai were numbered.