History documentaries

History genre page header
BBC Select is the place to discover so much more about history. Stream a range of compelling BBC history documentaries that explore the people, places and events of the past that shaped our world. Whether it’s the Roman Empire, Nelson and Napoleon, Black history, the story of the Titanic or the Tudors, BBC Select brings acclaimed and award-winning history shows, and featuring experts including Bettany Hughes, Lucy Worsley, Simon Schama and David Olusoga.

A Ship Through Time

A ship through time

Journalist Sean Fletcher investigates the mystery surrounding the 15th century Newport Medieval Ship, discovered in the mud of the River Usk in Wales in June 2002. Almost an entire century older than the Mary Rose, this unique time capsule offers a fascinating glimpse of life onboard a cargo ship, bearing witness to the habits and behaviors of its crew as well as Medieval European society.

Sex and Sensibility

Sex and Sensibility

Civilizations: Rise & Fall

Civilizations: Rise and Fall

They were the greatest civilizations in history. Each believed they would live on forever. But each suffered a devastating decline. From the Ancient Egyptians and the mighty Roman Empire to the samurai of Japan and the Aztec Kings, expert testimony and dramatic reconstruction unpicks why these great empires collapsed, using the treasures they left behind to unlock the secrets of their demise.

Witches of Essex

Witches of Essex

Presenter and Essex native Rylan teams up with anthropologist Alice Roberts to investigate the infamous Essex witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries. In their incident room, they explore the lives and deaths of the women accused of witchcraft. Guided by original court documents along with a team of historians, psychologists and medical experts, each story is powerfully brought to life.

First Britons

First Britons

New archaeological discoveries are painting a different picture of the very first native Britons. For centuries, it’s been thought that these hunter-gatherers lived a brutal, hand-to-mouth existence. But extraordinary new evidence has forced scientists to rethink who these Stone Age people were, where they came from, what impact they had, and how they give birth to the island nation of Britain.