History Channel Documentaries
Season 2004
TV-PG
The History Channel is a satellite and cable TV channel, devoted mainly to historical events and persons. Programming covers a wide array of periods and topics, while similar topics are often organized into themed weeks or daily marathons. Subjects include military history, medieval history, the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, modern engineering, and historical biographies.
Where to Watch Season 2004
36 Episodes
- The True Story of Alexander the Great
E1The True Story of Alexander the GreatConsidered the most successful warrior in recorded history, Alexander the Great conquered Asia by age 32. His innovative battle tactics remain a topic of endless fascination to scholars and military leaders. Actor Peter Woodward hosts this absorbing documentary that chronicles Alexander's life through ancient historians' narratives, interviews with contemporary scholars, state-of-the-art reenactments and tours of key historical sites. - Lincoln: Man or MythE2
Lincoln: Man or MythAbraham Lincoln is arguably America’s most beloved president. Yet nearly 150 years after his death, we’re still trying to piece together a true portrait of his life and character.. From the earliest archival materials to the most cutting-edge theories and discoveries, LINCOLN: MAN OR MYTH investigates the legends that have proliferated around the figure of Abraham Lincoln, exposing both fallacies and extraordinary truths through incisive scholarship, period accounts and artifacts, and modern technology. Noted scholars and historians grapple with such questions as: Was Lincoln truly the “Great Emancipator” who dedicated himself to freeing slaves? Did the writings that swayed the nation really come from his pen? Do we even know what he looked like?. Finally disentangling the truth from legend, INVESTIGATING HISTORY takes a probing look into the life of a man who transformed, enlightened, and captivated America.. - Benjamin FranklinE3
Benjamin FranklinInventor, writer, businessman, scientist, diplomat, and the face gracing the hundred-dollar bill--this stately figure is the Benjamin Franklin history has taught us to remember. Now, in this revealing yet informal History Channel® presentation, the real man behind the myth is finally brought to light. By his own admission, the man who negotiated an alliance with France, helped write the Declaration of Independence and was the first to tame lightning was far from perfect. A self-promoter and occasionally ruthless competitor, this Founding Father never made a penny from his achievements and was more comfortable speaking in front of the British Parliament than he was being with his own family. Narrated in an easy, conversational tone by Edward Herrmann (Intolerable Cruelty, The Practice), BEN FRANKLIN features in-depth interviews with renowned biographers and historians, as well as reenactments shot in High-Definition video on locations in Philadelphia--a truly remarkable virtual "walk" in Franklin's footsteps. Available on DVD for the first time, BEN FRANKLIN is a fresh, down-to-earth, informative look at one of America's most essential human monuments. - The Lincoln AssassinationE4
The Lincoln AssassinationTheorists Edward Steers Jr. and Charles Higham present their controversial ideas about Lincoln's death. Most Americans know that John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln. But many are unfamiliar with what happened afterwards. CONSPIRACY? reveals that while Booth died in a standoff days after firing the fatal shot, eight other men were tried for conspiring to kill the President. From the reaction to the crime and the news of Wilkes' death to the many theories surrounding Booth's actions, THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION explores the facts and exposes the fictions. Was Booth an agent of the Confederacy? The Union? The Catholic Church? Now, new discoveries have put to rest some of the original speculations while raising new questions. Drawing on the expertise of some of the world's most prominent Lincoln scholars, CONSPIRACY? probes for the truth and lets you come to your own conclusions. - Targeted: Osama bin LadenE5
Targeted: Osama bin LadenSelect countries that have played host to Osama bin Laden, including Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, are visited in this exploratory program on the terrorist leader. TARGETED was produced by the History Channel for their HISTORY ALIVE show, and offers some theories and discussion on how the elusive bin Laden turned into a ruthless figurehead. - Hell: The Devil's DomainE6
Hell: The Devil's DomainFrom Dante's Inferno to modern-day revival meetings, this feature-length special chronicles our views of Satan and his legendary realm. - A sweeping look at the many faces of the Satan through the ages. - Hear from survivors of near death experiences who claim to have glimpsed Hell. - Includes interviews with leading theologians and historians. From the dark Hades of Greek Mythology to the fire-and-brimstone visions of fundamentalist thunderers, Hell has long held a particular grip over the human imagination. HELL: THE DEVIL'S DOMAIN travels the world to peer into the darkest depths of this eternal fascination. - Ancient Monster HuntersE7
Ancient Monster HuntersWarlike amazons; the one-eyed man-eating Cyclops; the ferocious griffin, part bird, part lion. Were these creatures, celebrated by the ancient Greeks and immortalised by Homer something more than myth? The Greek myths are filled with magical tales of transformation, tragic episodes of human pettiness and jealousy, inspiring accounts of courage and valor, and legions of gods and heroes. But perhaps the most compelling stories are those of creatures like the one-eyed Cyclops and the ferocious half-lion, half-eagle known as the griffin. ANCIENT MONSTER HUNTERS follows a group of palaeontologists as they explore newly-translated evidence and examine remains that just may have inspired tales of these legendary monsters. Travel to the island of Samos, said to be the site of an Amazon battlefield, and analyse the gigantic bones that were found there. New data suggests the ancients actually searched for, excavated, measured and displayed these massive fossils. Is this the proof that the practice of palaeontology, long considered a modern science, actually began some 2,000 years before? Meet the monsters that just might link the Greek classical age with earth's prehistoric past and find out if these mythological beasts really have a place in the fossil record. - Last Day of WWIE11
Last Day of WWIAt 11 a.m., November 11, 1918, World War One ended. Victory had been assured and final territory already agreed upon. So why did more soldiers die that day than on D-Day? Based on Joseph Persico's book 11th Month, 11th Day, 11th Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, we reveal how Allied leaders found outrageous excuses to send 13,000 men to their deaths against a defeated enemy. Some leaders desired promotion, others craved retribution, while one commander chose to capture a town that day solely to bathe! Despite the human toll, nothing was gained--territories taken that day were eventually returned to Germany. The senseless 11th-hour slaughter captures the whole WWI in a microcosm--pointless carnage for no positive purpose. - Ceausescu's KidsE12
Ceausescu's KidsFor a generation Romanian women were forced to have babies they didn't want. Nicolae Ceausescu imposed a ban on abortion and birth control and forced every woman of child bearing age to have at least four children. Control over reproduction was strictly enforced. The infant and maternal death rate was high. Thousands babies were born with AIDS. In cases when children were born with mental or physical disabilities, their parents were explicitly encouraged to leave them in the special orphanages. In certain cases, when parental agreement was not easily obtainable, parents were made to believe that their infant was dead while in reality the new-born was transferred to the special "child-care" institution. Plagued by horrifying living conditions and wide-spread abuse, these orphanages were often situated in remote areas of the country, keeping the "embarrassing" sight of disabled children away from public view. The film crew shot much of the footage in such institutions and the result is a shockingly graphic sequence of skeleton-like emaciated and neglected children. Ceausescu's lasting legacy is a generation of unwanted children. - The Invisible War: Electromagnetic Warfare
E13The Invisible War: Electromagnetic WarfareImagine the future - a strange new weapon is detonated high over a large city. There is no explosion, no visible destruction, but everything electronic within the range of this weapon will go out.. permanently. Every electronic gadget in every home and office - disabled. No computers, no TV, no life support systems in hospitals, no water supply, no heat, no lights - truly, a return to the dark ages. Imagine a full range of new weapons; one can take out the electricity in your city, another can destroy you. If you haven't heard about these weapons, it's no surprise. Their development has been secretive and they sound more like science fiction than reality. When did this reality really begin and how far advanced is it now? This revealing documentary opens the window on this - until now - secretive science. - First Invasion: The War of 1812E14
First Invasion: The War of 1812After the British invade the Capital and burn much of it down, the fledgling America appears on the verge of total collapse. But soldiers make a stand against the British in Baltimore, and the momentum improbably shifts to America's inferior forces. Follow their journey to victory, as they defend their threatened democracy. - The True Story of Hannibal
E15The True Story of HannibalOne of history's greatest military leaders, at age nine Hannibal accompanied his father Hamilcar Barca on the Carthaginian expedition to conquer Spain. Before embarking, the boy vowed eternal hatred for Rome, his people's bitter rival. Twenty years later, in 218 BC, he left New Carthage (now Cartagena, Spain) to wage war on "The Eternal City" with an army of about 40,000, including cavalry and elephants. After crossing the Pyrenees and Rhone River, he traversed the Alps while beset by snowstorms, landslides, and hostile mountain tribes. This 2-hour special brings to life the story of the Carthaginian general who struck fear in all Roman hearts and wreaked havoc with his masterful military tactics, bringing the mighty Roman Republic to the brink of ruin. Archaeologists, historians, and military experts guide us through ancient Carthage and give insight into his military strategy up to defeat at Zama in 203 BC. - The Quest for King ArthurE16
The Quest for King ArthurFor centuries, the adventures of King Arthur and his fabled court have dominated the imagination of the western world. But how did this overpowering legend begin and what truth lies behind the enduring story of Arthur, King of Britons? In this 2-hour exploration of the Arthurian medieval myths, we examine the tantalizing historical facts behind the story of this band of deathless heroes and illuminate the contemporary quest by researchers to establish if the 6th-century warlord truly existed. - Ancient Olympics: Let The Games BeginE18
Ancient Olympics: Let The Games BeginThe ancient Games, like our modern Olympics, included champions and cheaters, glory and scandals, bitter rivalries and contests of strength, speed and savage combat. Set in 448 BC when the pounding of horse's hooves and the brutal hand-to-hand combat could be heard and seen by the crowds that filled the Olympic stadium. This one-hour special event follows the glory and corruption of the arc of a single, five-day Olympiad. The competitions include chariot racing, running, jumping, discus, javelin and two man-to-man combat finals-boxing and pankration, a form of extreme fighting in which death was not uncommon. With the help of sports historians and great athletes such as George Chuvalo and Olympic medalists Donovan Bailey and Angela Schneider, viewers travel back to a very different life-in a very different world. Combining computer generated imagery and vivid re-enactments, Ancient Olympics brings the legendary Hellenistic spectacle to life. - Alaska: Big AmericaE20
Alaska: Big AmericaAlaska's size is truly staggering: nearly 600,00 square miles - that's more than twice the size of Texas or four times the size of California. People have come lured by riches beyond their wildest dreams - fur, fish, gold, oil. Others come to lose themselves in a wild land more vast and unforgiving than they could ever imagine. They've come to measure themselves against its challenge. In return, they've endured bitter temps, isolation, and harrowing adventures for the privilege of living there. - High HitlerE285
High HitlerNever a robust man, Adolf Hitler was increasingly dependent on his personal physician throughout his time as fuehrer. As a result, the enigmatic and despised doctor, Theodor Morell, may well have played an important role in shaping the course of history, but scholars and World War II buffs have long debated his significance. From the facts that all agree on to more daring theories, HIGH HITLER examines the many aspects of this fascinating tale. Recent findings suggest that the world's most infamous dictator, a teetotal vegetarian, was ruling in an ""altered state,"" but how big a part did Hitler's drug dependency play in the decisions he made? And can any of the blame be assigned to Morrell? - Rescue at Dawn: The Los Banos RaidE287
Rescue at Dawn: The Los Banos RaidFeaturing all of the stealth and cunning of a modern-day Special Forces operation, the Los Banos raid is regarded as one of the most successful airborne raids of all time. On the morning of February 23rd, 1945 – just a few months before the end of The Second World War – a combined force of American paratroopers, Filipino guerrillas and amphibious tanks liberated over 2,000 prisoners who were facing a potential massacre at the hands of their Japanese captors. Incredibly, not a single prisoner was killed in the attack. In this dramatic feature length film, we return to the site of the Los Banos Prison Camp with four soldiers who took part in the rescue – as well as one of the prisoners who was liberated. Their compelling first-hand accounts form the backbone of the film. Wrote Colin Powell (in a letter to the 11th Airborne Division): "I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival the Los Banos prison raid. It is the textbook airborne operation for all ages and all armies." - Isaac's Storm
E288Isaac's StormBy the summer of 1900, Galveston, Texas was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, and its citizens were full of optimism as the 20th century approached. One of those citizens was Isaac Cline, appointed a decade earlier to head the U.S. Weather Bureau office in Galveston. But on September 8 of that year, a Category 4 hurricane washed away most of the city and claimed more than 6,000 lives--still the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. This documentary focuses on Isaac Cline's role in the disaster: was he (as local legend has it) a heroic figure who saved lives by warning the population to flee, or did scientific hubris prevent him from seeing the danger until it was too late? - The Battle of TripoliE289
The Battle of TripoliFilled with period documents, original artwork and dramatic re-enactments, The Battle of Tripoli relives the historic engagement of 1805 when a ragtag army of 1,000 men won a dramatic victory against one of the world's great powers. Led by diplomat turned general William Eaton, the force marched some 500 miles across the desert to free 307 American hostages held in Derna, Tripoli's second largest city. Eaton hoped not only to free the hostages, but to end the practice of paying tribute to the Mediterranean kingdom to protect American merchant ships from pillage by the Barbary pirates. - Rwanda: Do Scars Ever FadeE290
Rwanda: Do Scars Ever FadeThis 90-minute special presents the complex and riveting history of Rwanda, providing an in-depth look at the propaganda campaign that's crucial to understanding how genocide leaders got ordinary citizens to participate. In 1994, the small African country was awash in blood. An estimated 75 percent of the Tutsi minority was slaughtered, and in just 100 days, more than 800,000 were killed. And, at least 50,000 politically moderate Hutus also perished. We explore the 1994 genocide and post-genocide period, and grapple with the question: How does a country recover from its haunted past? Unfolding through firsthand experiences of Rwandans who lived through the genocide, we document stories of survivors, perpetrators, and government officials and sort through the difficulties of balancing justice with reconciliation. - The Doomsday ClockE291
The Doomsday ClockDeveloped in 1947 as an image to symbolize urgency in the Cold War and the threat of nuclear disaster, the mission of the Doomsday Clock has expanded to include non-nuclear global security issues. Maintained by the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, it's based at the University of Chicago. In response to world events, they move the clock's minute hand closer to or away from midnight--doomsday. In this hour, we cover the clock's history, its effectiveness, and its critics. - Knights and Armor
E292Knights and ArmorThe story of knights is the story of their armour, from simple and functional, to the almost futuristic and fantastical. JThis is a look at the story of the knights and their armour, from their early beginnings to the peak of their power, to their decline and the legacy they have left us today. Knights and Armour combines the adventure and heroism of Excalibur, with the romance and chivalry of Camelot. Following, in part, the incredible true story of the quintessential knight, Sir William Marshal, Knights and Armour travels to the battlegrounds and ancient courts to tell the glorious tale of the knights who cut majestic and colourful figures whether on parade, jousting or fighting hand to hand with mace, sword, axe or lance. - Shot From The SkyE293
Shot From The SkyShot from the Sky tells the real life saga of B-17 pilot Roy Allen. Shot down over occupied France. Befriended by the French Resistance, betrayed to the Nazis, Roy becomes one of one-hundred and sixty-eight Allied airmen who are imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp. In the heart of the Nazi Empire. In the most deadly place on Earth. The only thing that can keep them alive is each other. - Robin Hood: The First Outlaw HeroE294
Robin Hood: The First Outlaw HeroWho was the real Robin Hood? This age-old question and many more are answered in this exciting documentary. Come and explore the true story behind the beloved myth of Robin Hood the outlawed hero who famously stole from the rich and gave to the poor. In it you will track down the legend of the myth, its origins, and its many interpretations over the years; take a trip back to medieval times and visit the real Robin Hood country; and examine the far-reaching influences the Robin Hood legend has had throughout popular culture. With a myth so famously enduring and intriguing as its subject, this documentary will prove to be both satisfying and fascinating for anyone interested in Robin Hood. - Burma Bridge BustersE295
Burma Bridge BustersA compelling documentary that takes an in-depth look at the 490th U.S. Army Air Corps Bomb Squadron, who flew numerous bombing missions in China-Burma-India. These missions are from the so-called "forgotten theater" of WWII. Between February 1943 and August 1945, the squadron flew 615 missions, dropped 8,257,000 pounds of bombs and destroyed 192 bridges, earning them the nickname "Burma Bridge Busters." This is a heartfelt tribute to the brave men of the 490th Squadron - Battle History of the U. S. Coast GuardE298
Battle History of the U. S. Coast GuardThis program chronicles the role of the Coast Guard in war and peace over its 200 years of service to the United States. The program details the Coast Guards critical roles in the Civil War, Spanish American War, the World Wars, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and the circumstances that prepared it to fulfill the many missions it has grown into. - Unsung Heroes Of The B-29's
E299Unsung Heroes Of The B-29'sThe B-29 bomber, which saw action almost exclusively in the Pacific Theater during World War II, represented a giant leap forward technologically from the B-17s and B-24s that flew over Europe. And while the crews of these older bombers won fame for their exploits, the B-29 flyers didn't enjoy the same accolades, for the public perception was that their seemingly perfect planes allowed them to perform their missions with impunity. As UNSUNG HEROES OF THE B-29s reveals, the truth was far more complicated,. The perfect missions from high above Japanese defenses were balanced by scores of dead-low bombing runs without guns into the face of determined kamikaze defenses. Captured crews suffered horribly in Japanese prison camps. And the rush to develop the B-29 claimed scores of lives in hurry-up testing, where design and manufacturing flaws were paid for in blood before the plane even entered active service. UNSUNG HEROES OF THE B-29 also includes a blow-by-blow account of the mission to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima from Paul Tibbets, the pilot.