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.

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Dynasties The Families That changed the World

Throughout history, certain names have cropped up again and again, holding onto the reins of power. Families that seem to continually reach the pinnacle of society. But how do they do it? This insightful historical documentary series delves into the inner workings of the world’s most powerful and intriguing dynasties. The scandals, powerplays, humble beginnings and dramatic downfalls are all explored.

Elizabeth: A Life Through the Lens

Elizabeth: A Life Through the Lens

Queen Elizabeth II was the most photographed person ever. This revealing documentary explores her relationship with the camera, using rarely seen film and photos to chart her changing image over seven decades. As the media climate changed during her long reign, so did the Royal Family’s reliance on the media and photography to avoid scandals and evade press intrusion.

JFK: The Home Movie that Changed the World

JFK: The Home movie that changed the world

Abraham Zapruder’s home movie capturing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is one of the most remarkable documents in American history. To mark the 60th anniversary of JFK’s murder in November 1963, this revealing documentary focuses on the little-known history of the actual 8mm film that captured the horrific events and spawned endless speculation and conspiracy theories.

Lucy Worsley Investigates

Lucy Worsley Investigates

Witch trials. Murdered princes. The Black Death. Uncover the shocking truth behind history’s most infamous mysteries and find out what they say about our changing society. Historian Lucy Worsley finds lost records, re-examines crime scenes and calls on experts to reframe each case in this remarkable history documentary. As she digs deeper, new light is shed on history’s most notorious moments.

Nazi Killing Fields

Nazi Killing Fields

March 1945 and for the Germans, the war is long lost. But a special unit of the SS orders a massacre of wandering forced laborers, which resulted in 208 murdered men, women and children left buried in the Arnsberg Forest. It was a war crime that was never fully resolved and is largely forgotten. But as this unflinching history documentary reveals, it continues to have an effect today.