Chasing the Plague
Follow scientists as they track down the earliest known bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks, while historians and scholars explore the societal impact of the plague on medieval Europe. What happens when a third of a continent’s population is wiped out?
Episodes
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Chasing the Plague
S22 E10 - 55m 15s
Follow scientists as they track down the earliest known bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks, while historians and scholars explore the societal impact of the plague on medieval Europe. What happens when a third of a continent’s population is wiped out?
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Cracking the Queen's Code
S22 E9 - 55m 15s
In early 2023, three amateur codebreakers announced they had successfully decoded the secret correspondence of one of the most tragic characters in European history: Mary, Queen of Scots. 57 encrypted letters detail the exiled queen’s efforts to free herself from imprisonment and gain advantage over her rival, Queen Elizabeth. Now, after four centuries, Mary’s urgent pleas can be revealed.
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Cleopatra's Last Temple
S22 E8 - 55m 15s
Just below the Mediterranean’s surface, in Alexandria’s harbor, lie the ruins of a mysterious ancient monument. For more than 20 years, French explorer Franck Goddio has been hoping to confirm these remains are a temple belonging to Cleopatra. If true, this discovery could reveal vital new information about Cleopatra’s reign and her connection with the goddess Isis.
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The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum
S22 E7 - 55m 15s
The Colosseum: the jewel of Ancient Rome. It wowed vast crowds with extraordinary battles. It pushed the boundaries of technology. It exhibited Rome’s vast wealth and power. Roman leaders spread the Colosseum’s design throughout the Empire, and it helped them conquer the ancient world. But just as the structure embodied Rome’s power, so too did it contribute to the Empire’s downfall.
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Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief (Part Two)
S22 E6 - 54m 25s
Historian Jonathan Petropoulos investigates former Nazi art dealer Bruno Lohse’s role in post-war America. Lohse established relationships with curators at some of the nation’s most important cultural institutions and became an invisible hand, dealing in looted art – even as the families of the original owners pursued the restitution of works rightfully theirs.
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Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief (Part One)
S22 E5 - 54m 50s
Historian Jonathan Petropoulos investigates the life of former Nazi art dealer Bruno Lohse, who became Hermann Göring’s personal collector in Paris, tasked with finding the most desirable works of art the Nazis stole from Jews. Post-war, Lohse spent a brief time in prison, but then returned to Munich and resumed his career as a dealer, more often than not trading in art looted during World War II.
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Lost Treasures of Angkor – King's Gold
S22 E4 - 55m 15s
The discovery of gold and silver artifacts in Laos, dating to the early days of the Khmer Empire, leads scientists to investigate how the priceless objects were made and where they might have originated. On their journey, they retrace the steps of the ancient kings and explore the sacred landscape around Vat Phou to learn more about this ancient civilization.
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Lost Treasures of Angkor – The Discovery
S22 E3 - 55m 15s
Angkor was the capital of the Khmer empire, which controlled much of the region between the 9th and 15th centuries. The stunning accomplishments of Angkor’s great kings are clear to see—but the period preceding the foundation of their great city is shrouded in mystery. Now, the discovery of an incredible hoard of stunning artifacts is providing surprising new clues about this early Khmer society.
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Field of Vampires
S22 E2 - 55m 15s
In 2022, a terrifying discovery: a female skeleton dating from 1650, buried with a sickle across her neck and giant padlock on her toe—double protection to keep her from rising from the dead. All the evidence points to her being buried as a vampire... and she’s not alone, with more than 50 deviant burials around her. Who was she and what did these burial rituals mean?
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The Civil War's Lost Massacre
S22 E1 - 55m 23s
Originally a supply depot for Union forces in Kentucky, Camp Nelson became the site where 10,000 Black soldiers trained in the Civil War. But in the war’s last months, these soldiers were attacked by bitter Southerners. Their remains have never been found, and a team is dedicated to finding them to memorialize their service and heroism.
Extras + Features
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Preview | Picturing Shakespeare
S23 E2 - 32s
There are only two accepted representations of William Shakespeare that are considered “official” – but could a portrait that has been hanging over a family’s mantelpiece for the last 50 years be the third? British window washer Steven Wadlow, whose father bought the portrait in the 1960s, is on the hunt to prove the painting is indeed genuine. If so, it could be worth as much as $200 million.
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Facial Recognition Finds 91% Match to Shakespeare
S23 E2 - 1m 24s
Steven Wadlow’s method for testing and comparing his portrait of William Shakespeare with already authenticated ones originally involved cutting and pasting photocopied images by hand. Today, advanced facial recognition software offers, not only a shortcut for comparison, but also hope that the painting may indeed depict Shakespeare himself.
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X-Rays Reveal Hidden Clues: Is This the Only Portrait of Shakespeare from Life?
S23 E2 - 2m 2s
X-ray scans and stylistic analysis of the Wadlow Shakespeare portrait reveal details hidden beneath several layers of overpaint. What do these new findings mean for the authenticity of the portrait?
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Family Discovers Possible Shakespeare Portrait Hanging in Their Living Room
S23 E2 - 2m 10s
The portrait hung above the Wadlow family’s television set for 50 years. While watching a program about William Shakespeare, Peter Wadlow realized that the painting might also be of the famous playwright. With so few accepted, contemporary representations of the Bard in existence, could their portrait be genuine?
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Experts Used Tree Rings to Date This Portrait to Shakespeare’s Lifetime
S23 E2 - 2m 45s
Unlike other representations of William Shakespeare, Steven’s portrait was painted on wood panels rather than canvas. Researchers were able to pinpoint when the painting was made with dendrochronology, the scientific method of using tree rings to date events or artifacts, revealing surprising results.
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Preview | China's Bronze Kingdom
S23 E1 - 32s
A mysterious ancient city lies hidden in the mountains of Sichuan – remnants of a kingdom consigned to oblivion for thousands of years, until the chance discovery of a jade artifact in 1986. More than 10,000 unusual items have been found at the site which experts believe may be as archaeologically important as the Terracotta Army of Xi’an. Could this be the capital of the ancient Shu kingdom?
Schedule
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Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Saturday
Nov 8
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Sunday
Nov 9
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Sunday
Nov 9
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Sunday
Nov 9
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Sunday
Nov 9
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Sunday
Nov 9
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Monday
Nov 10
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Monday
Nov 10
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Tuesday
Nov 11
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Wednesday
Nov 12
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Wednesday
Nov 12
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Wednesday
Nov 12
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Wednesday
Nov 12
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Thursday
Nov 13
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Thursday
Nov 13
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Friday
Nov 14
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
The Princes in the Tower
Saturday
Nov 15
1 Hour
Amateur archaeologist Philippa Langley searches for what really happened to Richard III's two nephews, who many believe he had murdered. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Death in Britannia
Saturday
Nov 15
1 Hour
A skeleton dating back to the Roman occupation of Britain provokes further study after scientists see an iron nail driven through its heel bone, possibly indicating the person was crucified. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Saturday
Nov 15
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million. -
Image
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Saturday
Nov 15
1 Hour
If it is deemed genuine, a portrait of Shakespeare that has been hanging over a mantlepiece for the past 50 years could be worth as much as $200 million.
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