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Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts

Season 1
Riddled with wars, pandemics, famines and cataclysmic floods, the ancient world was a cursed and violent place. In this seminal history documentary series, historian Alice Roberts goes back in time to look at the factors that toppled the world of our ancestors. Using modern scientific techniques, she will try to decipher how civilization survived such turbulent and destructive eras.
20225 episodesTV-14
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Ancient Global Warming
    March 13, 2022
    44min
    TV-14
    From 6100BCE to the end of the Bronze Age, floods, volcanic eruptions, and conflict had a devastating effect on the ancient world. As historian Alice Roberts reveals in this exciting history documentary, this was a time of great architecture, literature, and the arts. But most of the great civilizations creating this culture suddenly collapsed, plunging the world into a devastating dark age.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  2. S1 E2 - Rome's Rise and Fall
    March 20, 2022
    44min
    16+
    The Roman Empire was one of history’s greatest civilizations. But what was the secret of its success? And what led to its collapse? In this enthralling history documentary, Alice Roberts explores this empire, investigating newly discovered battlegrounds in Britain and Spain to find out how Rome defeated her enemies. But was Rome’s downfall ultimately caused by enemies within?
    Free trial of BBC Select
  3. S1 E3 - The Darkest Age
    March 27, 2022
    44min
    TV-14
    The disastrous final days of the Roman Empire led to a cataclysmic power vacuum, with the effects felt even beyond the Empire's borders. As historian Alice Roberts notes in this engrossing documentary, the period that followed was one of history’s darkest times, with war and plague ravaging the planet. But even in this cursed era, culture and trade continued to flourish.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  4. S1 E4 - God's Holy Warriors
    April 3, 2022
    44min
    TV-14
    After Rome's collapse, Saxons and Vikings rampaged through Europe, but then these pagan societies seemed to disappear. Where did they go? And why? In this thrilling history documentary, Professor Alice Roberts reveals how archaeologists have unveiled one of history's most mysterious periods. These catastrophes, calamities and disasters have all helped to shape modern Europe.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  5. S1 E5 - Medieval Mystery
    April 10, 2022
    43min
    TV-14
    The period known as the Middle Ages is considered one of the most cursed periods in European history. In the final episode of this enthralling documentary series, Alice Roberts reveals how wars, pandemics and natural disasters toppled the world of our ancestors. Black Death wiped out up to half of Europe’s population and climate change caused cataclysmic floods. How did Western society survive?
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Details

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Subtitles
None available
Directors
Graham Cooper
Producers
Graham Cooper
Studio
Rare TV
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