Ancient Discoveries

.The computer, a device for making automatic calculations, is the epitome of the modern age. The first electrical computers only emerged in the Second World War, the first mechanical ones barley a hundred years earlier. Yet two thousand years before that the Greeks had machines that could do exactly the same things.

We often think of modern medicine as only really beginning at the Renaissance, but we're wrong. We look into the grisly but brilliant surgeries of the great ancient physicians to witness three procedures common at the time but which would not be attempted successfully again for nearly two thousand years.

'Robotics' explores the life and inventions of Heron of Alexandria, witnessing the awe-inspiring operations of his "miracle machines", from automatic doors to coin operated machines. But greatest of all, we delve into the mystery of Heron's steam engine, a working device that was not only the first steam engine in history but also the first jet engine.

We explore the dangerous world of ancient warfare. Greek flame throwers, Roman missiles and 2000 year old tanks reveal that so-called modern weapons have their roots in altogether more ancient ideas.

This episode uncovers the revolutionary work of ancient shipbuilders, whose vessels rivalled modern cruise liners in their scale and opulence. Dragged from the depths of an Italian lake, the Nemi ships were the Titanic's of the ancient world.

In this episode we travel back in time to reveal the ingenious machines that the ancients used to harness natural power. Could the Romans have had the first industrial revolution, 2000 years before we like to think it happened?