Four compelling documentaries exploring the fascinating history of our ancient world

Empresses of Ancient Rome Professor Catharine Edwards travels across what was the heart of the Roman empire lifting the lid on the women behind some of the most fearsome emperors of all time. These women were PR weapons and fashion role models, patrons and matchmakers, politicians and plotters. Everything from murderers to murder victims, and from pagan goddesses to Christian saints. We see that women could pull the strings of power too, but only at great personal risk... Genius of the Ancient World Historian Bettany Hughes travels to India, Greece and China on the trail of three giants of ancient philosophy - Buddha, Socrates and Confucius. The Story of Egypt This is the story of the worlds greatest civilisation. It spans over 5,000 years of history that have shaped the world we live in today. It is full of spectacular sites and epic stories; and an evolving society of inventors, heroes, heroines, villains, artisans and pioneers. This is the story of Ancient Egypt. Rome: Empire Without Limit Travelling from Spain to Iran, Egypt to Scotland, Tunisia to Greece, historian and classicist Mary Beard answers the big questions that have fascinated people for centuries... How and why did the Roman Empire happen? Why did Rome acquire an empire? And why did it fall? Mary examines its creation, its successes, its failures and the legacy it left behind - not just its technology and buildings, its roads and laws but also in the worlds that came after it.