In 1970, one of the world’s largest infrastructure projects opened in Aswan, Egypt.
It was a dam that harnessed the power of the Nile River, the longest river in the world.
The dam provided electricity for half of the country and tamed the annual floods, a regular feature on the Nile.
But the project wasn’t without its drawbacks. It became a point of cont ... Show More
Today
Sparta: The Ancient Greek Warrior State
Few societies in history have inspired as much fascination as ancient Sparta. It was a city-state built on discipline, military power, and a way of life unlike anywhere else in the ancient world. From its feared hoplite army to its rigid social system, Sparta became one of histor ... Show More
15m 56s
Apr 28
Bernardo de Gálvez: Forgotten Hero of the American Revolution
When Americans tell the story of the Revolutionary War, the focus usually falls on Washington, Jefferson, and the battles fought in the thirteen colonies. Yet independence was also won through foreign support. Some of it, in France's case, was quite overt. Spain also supported th ... Show More
16m 52s
Apr 2025
The Egyptian Sphinx
Measuring 240 feet long from paw to tail, and around the height of a six-story building, the Great Sphinx is one of Egypt’s most spectacular, and mysterious, monuments. Believed to have been built over four millennia ago, much of its story has been lost to history, and the rest i ... Show More
56 m
May 2021
Ancient Afghanistan: The Land of a Thousand Cities
<p>Situated north of the Hindu Kush and south of the Oxus (Amu Darya) River, the history of the ancient region of Bactria is rich and diverse. From the Oxus Civilisation that flourished in the Bronze Age to the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Greco-Bactrians and the Kush ... Show More
51m 54s
Aug 2025
Ashurbanipal: The Last Great King of Assyria
Known as the 'King of the World' and the last great king of Assyria, Ashurbanipal bestrode the ancient Mesopotamian world as a warrior but also a scholar, ruling the great Assyrian empire at the height of its power.In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Assyriologist Dr Sel ... Show More
52m 11s