History documentaries

The Secrets of the Mary Rose

The Mary Rose was Henry VIII’s favorite warship and flagship of his fleet. It was lost in 1545 but thanks to one of the greatest maritime archaeology projects in British history it was discovered again, excavated, and raised from the seabed in the 1980s. Using 40 years of archive footage, historian Dan Snow charts the incredible story of the Mary Rose.
The Battle of Britain

This fascinating history documentary tells the story of ‘The Battle of Britain’, a fight for survival that would change the course of World War II. By June 1940, Britain stood alone. France had surrendered; the Allies faced a humiliating retreat from the beaches of Dunkirk. Hitler had succeeded in conquering the rest of Europe. This pivotal battle, fought in the skies, was Britain’s last chance.
The Story of the Jews

Acclaimed historian Simon Schama looks at the impact of the Jews and those moments when the Jewish experience has changed the fate of the world. This ground-breaking five-part BBC history documentary travels the globe from New York to Odessa, Berlin to Jerusalem, to tell ancient and modern stories that illuminate the passions and perplexities of the Jewish people today.
The Warrior Queen: Boudica

After being betrayed and humiliated by Britain’s Roman overlords once her chieftain husband died, Queen Boudica turned on her masters. She set about planning her revenge, building an army and uniting warring tribes by focusing on a common enemy. She razed cities and defeated Roman legions, but her resistance finally came to an end at the Battle of Watling Street, where 200,000 Britons died.
The Stuarts

The Stuart monarchs are considered merciless tyrants, but they also forged modern Britain.
Ruling Britain from 1603 to 1714, the Stuart monarchs have often been branded as merciless tyrants. But the kingdoms they ruled, Scotland, England and Ireland, were already steeped in bloodshed and infighting as they took power. Historian Dr Clare Jackson argues that the Stuarts were Britain’s defining royal family and their impact on the country is still felt today.