History documentaries

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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.

The Stuarts

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.

Waterloo's Warriors

Waterloo's Warriors

The army that defeated Napoleon and the French at Waterloo is often regarded as a quintessentially English force. But most of the soldiers under the Duke of Wellington’s command were not English. Through their own accounts, this compelling history documentary tells the stories of the Scots, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, and German troops who fought the battle and of the families who travelled with them.

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

A British Intelligence Officer known as Thomas Edward Lawrence conducted daring raids during World War I which made him a legend. But how did this man become the renowned ‘Lawrence of Arabia?’ This fascinating history documentary explores the character behind the man and tries to explain how he came to lead a small band of Arab fighters against the fourth largest army in the world.

The Somme 1916: From Both Sides Of The Wire

the somme 1916 from both sides of the wire

Using unique access to unseen German military archives, historian Peter Barton tells the story of the battle that, more than any other, has come to define the WWI experience: The Somme. Considered one of the deadliest battles in human history, in this enthralling history documentary, he walks the battlefield, explaining the failures that led to over 20,000 British deaths. Was the battle worth it?

Nelson: Britain's Great Naval Hero

Nelson Britain's Great Naval Hero

The story of Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson’s incredible life from humble beginnings to one of Britain’s greatest ever war heroes. This insightful history documentary takes a fresh look at the
remarkable career of this naval icon. Scandals are uncovered, military failures are revealed and the secrets behind the Battle of Trafalgar’s most famous Admiral are exposed and explored.