Ancient Megastructures

Superstructures of Antiquity

TV-G
The incredible engineering stories behind three iconic ancient buildings: the Colosseum, the Great Pyramid of Giza and Chartres Cathedral. We tell the history of the people who built them: where they came from, how they lived, and how they managed to erect some of the greatest structures ever built by man. Using ground-breaking computer graphics and dramatic construction, this series shows in intimate detail how these buildings were conceived and constructed in an age before modern technology.
Where to Watch Superstructures of Antiquity
14 Episodes
  • Chartres Cathedral
    E1
    Chartres CathedralBuilding the Chartres Cathedral pushed construction techniques to the limit, but behind this engineering triumph lies a dark story of violence, political double-dealing and destruction.
  • The Colosseum
    E2
    The ColosseumFollow the dramatic story behind the building of the Colosseum in Ancient Rome. The Romans used innovative technology that we still use today, but the money to pay for the project enslaved the nation.
  • The Great Pyramid
    E3
    The Great PyramidThe Great Pyramid of Giza is 4,500 years old. It's the only ancient wonder of the world still standing. To cut and move the 2 million stones needed to build it would involve the whole Egyptian state.
  • Sagrada Familia
    E4
    Sagrada Familia
  • The Alhambra
    E5
    The AlhambraThe Alhambra is the greatest example of Islamic military architecture in Europe. Sultan Muhammad I constructed this ingenious, impregnable fortress in 1238 amid treacherous political betrayals.
  • Petra
    E6
    PetraCarved into the side of a narrow gorge in the unforgiving deserts of Petra in modern day Jordan, the ancient Nabataeans turned engineering on its head to create their glorious royal city, Khazneh.
  • Machu Picchu
    E7
    Machu PicchuMachu Picchu Built using techniques that surpass modern ones, the temples, altars and residences of Machu Picchu have resisted torrential rains, landslides and earth tremors since being abandoned by the Incas.
  • Angkor Wat
    E8
    Angkor WatHidden deep in Cambodia's jungles, the temple of Angkor Wat is a towering monument to the Hindu god Vishnu, belying its origins as the mausoleum for a usurper king who murdered his great uncle.
  • Istanbul's Hagia Sophia
    E9
    Istanbul's Hagia SophiaFiery Roman Emperor Justinian ordered the rebuilding of the great church of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul almost 1500 years ago. Modern science now uncovers the secret to this vast golden dome's longevity.
  • Teotihuacan
    E10
    Teotihuacan
  • Taj Mahal
    E11
    Taj Mahal
  • Suez Canal
    E12
    Suez Canal
  • St. Peter's Basilica
    E13
    St. Peter's Basilica
  • Acropolis of Athens
    E14
    Acropolis of Athens
 
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