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Reference source of past TV
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Men of Iron
A three-part Series
Last part shown on Channel 4, Monday 23 February at 9.00pm
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Told through the rivalries of two great entrepreneurial dynasties, the
Stephensons and the Brunels, this three-part series charts a whole generation of
great engineers
From the audacious attempt to build the first tunnel under the Thames to the
construction of the locomotives that would change the world forever, Men of Iron
brings the extraordinary achievements of these great Victorian pioneers to
life. |
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Visit Channel 4
Science and
Men of Iron website together with the
Channel 4 History and
historyheads website
for further information |
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[TV] |
Monarchy
A New 20-part Series
Presented by Dr David Starkey
Death of a Dynasty (6)
Shown on Channel 4, Monday 22 November at 9.00pm
The series will continue in 2005
The crown of England is the oldest surviving political
institution in Europe. The dynamic relationship between monarchy and people
created the English national identity and shaped Scotland and Wales.
In the 20-part Monarchy television series to shown over the next four years, Dr David Starkey
highlights the fertile relationship between crown and people, which has, from
earliest times, shaped British politics in a unique way. Sometimes it has been a
forced marriage, in which brutality, greed and violence has driven the partners
apart. But it has also been a relationship of mutual need that has guaranteed
freedoms and underpinned justice in Britain.
'To many people today, monarchy seems to be merely a corrosive
mixture of snobbery, ceremony and sentiment,' says Dr Starkey. 'But it's far
more than that. It's over 1,500 years old, and right from the beginning, it had
a strong popular element. This means its history is more than a tale of kings
and queens. It's also the story of a dialogue between king and people in which
the English learnt to rule themselves and became the envy and example of the world.'
A Nation State (18.10.04 at 9.00pm): The history of the
British monarchy. Over four series he'll be showing us how our kings and queens built this nation.
Britannia to England
Aengla Land (25.10.04 at 9.00pm): The second film in
the series focuses on the Anglo-Saxons, the Germanic people who arrived in the fifth century, were ruled in the
eleventh by King Canute and ultimately succumbed to William the Conqueror on the battlefield at Hastings in 1066.
The French
Connection
Conquest (1.11.04 at 9.00pm):
Here David examines the consequences for Normans and English alike following the
Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest. The events obviously had a major
impact on the monarchy and Dr Starkey illuminates a turbulent era of English
history which involved intrigue, murder and civil war.
Conquest
Dynasty (8.11.04 at 9.00pm):
This edition focuses on King Henry II of England whose dominion
extended from the Scottish moors to the Pyrenees of France, but whose reign was
soured by his conflict with Archbishop Thomas Becket.
A United Kingdom (15.11.04 at 9.00pm): Here Dr
Starkey looks at a century that saw the reigns of three Edwards: father, son and grandson. Edward I attempted to
create a united kingdom but, after his work was almost undone by his ineffectual son, Edward II, it was Edward III
who restored English pride.
Death of a Dynasty (22.11.04 at 9.00pm):
The first series comes to a close with the real story behind the reigns of Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry
VI, all famously characterised in Shakespeare plays. Murder, civil war and a crisis of belief in the institution of
monarchy feature in the tale of these medieval kings.
The series will continue in 2005
Visit Channel 4 History and
the Monarchy website for more information |
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[TV] |
Mysteries of Lost Empires
A five-part Series
Last part shown on Channel 4, Thursday 29 June, 2000 at 8.00pm
Selected Repeats of series shown during 2001
The series included:
Do you know what a Trebuchet is and how did they work?
How did the Egyptians raise their obelisks?
What went into the construction of a Roman Bath house and how did it work?
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More information?...
Visit the American website of the series,
Secrets of the Lost Empires
Produced and broadcast by the
PBS
station WGBH.
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[TV] |
Mummies of the Takla Makan
(MYSTERY OF THE MUMMIES)
A repeat
showing on Channel 4, Monday 11 September, 2000 at 8.00pm
This was another chance to follow an
international team of experts deep into China's
Takla Makan desert to discover the true origins
of the mummies uncovered from beneath the sands.
Dr Charlotte Roberts is the 34-year-old British
forensic anthropologist undertaking an extensive
examination of these extraordinary remains.
Accompanying her was Professor Victor Mair, the
authoritative American expert from the University
of Pennsylvania and Dr Jeannine Davis-Kimball, an
investigative archaeologist from Berkeley
University.
The almost perfectly preserved graves of an
unknown, extinct people, 3,500 years old, has
confounded archaeologists and stunned the Chinese
Government. With their reddish-blonde hair, long
noses and finely-woven tartan clothing, these
extraordinary mummies possess undeniably European
roots - and have caused a political storm. Site
on the mystery of the Takla Makan Mummies
Site
on the Takla Makan mummies.
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[TV] |
NEANDERTHAL
A two-part drama documentary
Visit the
website for more information
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First shown on Channel 4 in December 2000
A revealing
two-part drama documentary series, which told the
story of Modern man's closest human relatives
using actors in state-of-the-art prosthetics and
the latest scientific research to dramatically
reconstruct their day-to-day lives.
For a quarter of a
million years Europe was home to a different
species of human. Their world was harsh and
unforgiving, ravaged by Ice Ages and stalked by
cave lions, bears and leopards. Yet they thrived,
perfectly in tune with their environment. They
were the Neanderthals.
Then, 40,000 years
ago, another human species - Modern man - arrived
in Europe. Within 10,000 years, the last
Neanderthal was dead. Neanderthal, a revealing
two-part drama documentary series, tells the
story of Modern man's closest human relatives. It
challenges the popular misconception that they
were hairy, brutish cavemen and looks at the
mystery of their extinction, including the role
our ancestors may have played.
A "compilation" edition of the programme was Shown on
Channel 4 in August 2001
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New Asteroid Danger
(A BBC Horizon programme)
Shown Tuesday 29 August, 2000 BBC 2 at 9.00pm
| New evidence of
the dangers of relatively small asteroids
striking Earth, with the power of a nuclear bomb.
It has been calculated that three such objects
have hit this planet over the past 130 years and
another is due. |
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More Information? Visit New
Asteroid Danger
(originally shown 18.3.1999)
also visit the BBC "Horizon" Archives
for past programme
information
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[TV] |
Pagans
A four-part Series
Sacred Landscapes (4)
Shown on Channel 4, Monday 9 August at 9.00pm
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In this four-part series anthropologist Richard Rudgley re-evaluates 5,000 years of European history to outline
the influence of Pagans. We may believe that our lives today are shaped by 2,000 years of Roman and Christian
tradition, but in this new series, Richard argues that our pagan past is very much a part of who we are
today.
Sexy Beasts
(19.07.04):
Originally the word 'pagan' simply referred to country dwellers but Richard suggests that Christian
propaganda led to the term becoming associated with anything considered lewd and dangerous.
Magic Moments
(26.07.04):
Focusing here on the implementation of seemingly magical knowledge which healed
the sick, predicted the seasons and transformed dull rocks into brilliant
metals. He shows how those with such knowledge became important figures in pagan
societies, whilst illustrating the traditions that remain with us today.
Band of Brothers
(2.08.04):
This programme focuses on pagan warriors with an investigation of their kings to
determine whether they were simply macho louts with a penchant for drinking and
fighting, or more astute champions inclined to use brain rather than brawn to retain power.
Sacred Landscapes
(9.08.04):
In this programme Richard suggests that our desire to escape to the country is a modern evocation
of the intense spiritual relationship our pagan ancestors enjoyed with the natural world.
Visit the
Pagans website for further
information |
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[TV] |
Private Lives of the Pharaohs
A three-part Series
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In this three-part Secrets of the
Dead special, new scientific and forensic tests reveal the truth
behind the greatest civilisation on Earth - Ancient Egypt.
The
Fall of the House of Tutankhamun
Channel 4, Monday 13 November, 2000 at 9.00pm
When Howard Carter
found the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun in
1922, he also found the buried remains of two
foetuses. But who were these children, and might
their premature death be linked to inbreeding and
the end of Tutankhamun's family, the famous 18th
Dynasty? ...
Lost
City of the Pyramids
Channel 4, Monday 20 November, 2000 at 9.00pm
In the second
programme, Lost City of the Pyramids, what is
arguably the most debated mystery surrounding the
Ancient Egyptians is laid bare: who built the
Pyramids, and how and why did they do it?
Sex,
Death and the Lotus
Channel 4, Monday 27 November , 2000 at 9.00pm
In the final
programme of the series, a mummy in the
Manchester Museum is analysed, revealing the
forgotten links between an Egyptian water lily,
the afterlife, ...
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Pyramid
A
one-off, ground-breaking programme
A further repeat showing
was on BBC1 at 3.55am
Christmas morning 2002
and again on Wednesday 17 September 2003 at 9.00pm
 First
shown on BBC 1, Monday 28 October 2002 at 9.00pm and repeated Sunday
10 November 2002 at 3.30pmThe
programme attempted to unravelled the mystery of how the pyramids were built, through the
eyes of those who built them |
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Visit BBC
History
and the
Pyramid
website for more information |
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[TV] |
Pyramids and Prophets
A two-part Series
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A series in which
Egyptologist David Rohl unravels the mysteries
surrounding the great pharaohs of Egypt.
Channel 4, Monday
27 November, 2000 at 8.00pm
He exposes
chronological discrepancies in the timescale
measured by historians in the 19th century and
proposes a new historical framework upon which
the progress of Egyptian history can be charted.
He begins with three stories of Egyptology: the
excavation of the sacred Apis Bulls at Sakkara,
the discovery of the hidden hoard of mummies near
the Valley of the Kings and the major
archaeological dig at the Royal Tombs of Tanis. ...
Channel 4, Monday
4 December, 2000 at 8.00pm
In this episode,
gathering evidence to show that the great pharaoh
Rammesses [sic] II was the Eygptian king who the
Bible says plundered the Temple of Jerusalem and
carried off Solomon's gold. Armed with this new
chronology, he journeys to the Holy Land in
search of Solomon himself. ...
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Queen Of Sheba: Behind The
Myth
Shown on BBC 2, Saturday 18 May 2002 at 8.10pm
Repeat shown on BBC 2, Saturday 17 April 2004 at 7.20pm
| This archaeological detective story journeys to the forgotten 3000 year
old temple of the Queen of Sheba, to piece together her true story. The documentary utilises extensive
archaeological research and state-of-the-art technology to bring to life the reign of the legendary Queen
of Sheba. For two years, film-makers had exclusive access to an archaeological dig in Yemen that has yielded
extraordinary clues about the ancient world of Sheba. With the help of experts, the film builds a vivid
picture of life in the Sheban capital |
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[TV] |
"Quest
of the Carib Canoe "
Shown Monday 21 August, 2000 BBC 2 at 9.30 pm
| Documentary about Jacob Frederick's
attempt to realise a lifelong dream to travel
from his birthplace, the island of Dominica in
the Caribbean, to his ancestral home in the
jungles of South America. Penniless, Jacob's only
option was to build a traditional Caribbean
canoe, and prepare for a dangerous voyage. |
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[TV] |
Quest for the Lost City
Visit the programme website
Shown on Channel 4, Monday 13 November, 2000
at 8.00pm
| One
thousand years ago ancient Maya, one of the
world's greatest civilisations collapsed, leaving
its cities, pyramids, palaces and fabulous
treasures to the jungle. Today, waiting to be
discovered somewhere along the Usumacinta River
in Guatemala, may lie the Mayan's greatest prize,
the centre of an empire that dominated the people
of Central America, a state known only today by
its insignia - a carved snake's head.
Visit "To the Ends of the Earth
2" for more
information about the programme and series
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[TV] |
"Quest
for the Lost Civilisation"
A three-part Series
Last part shown on Channel 4, Thursday 20
July, 2000 at 8.30pm
| The global quest by controversial
best-selling author and journalist Graham Hancock
to trace the remains of a hypothetical culture,
believed to have influenced ancient societies all
over the world. Clues lie beneath the Pacific
Ocean, in the form of a recently discovered
structure. In the last programme, he seeked to
support his theory that a sophisticated but
forgotten culture existed 10,000 years ago ... Pictures
of the Nazca lines
Pictures
and information about Angkor, Thailand and
Cambodia
The
programmes
"Heaven's Mirror" (6.7.00) : "Forgotten Knowledge" (13.7.00) :
"Ancient Mariners" (20.7.00)
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[TV] |
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