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.

Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream

Stream Vienna - Empire, Dynasty and Dream on BBC Select

Simon Sebag Montefiore tells the story of the magical capital of Austria: Vienna.

The Birth of Empire: The East India Company

Stream The Birth of Empire - The East India Company on BBC Select

Centuries ago, England controlled India and was heavily invested in China. The country’s economy and trade dwarfed all others, and it was all in the hands of the first multinational: the East India Company.

American History's Biggest Fibs

American History's Biggest Fibs

Join Lucy Worsley in a three-part series exploring how American history has been mythologised and manipulated by politicians, writers and protesters. From the American Revolution and Civil War through to the United States’ becoming a superpower after the Second World War, how much is fact and how much is potentially fiction?

Suffragettes

Stream Suffragettes

This award-winning BBC history documentary with Lucy Worsley explores the sacrifices made by English women fighting for their right to vote. Learn more about the Suffragette Movement and how a group of working-class women faced danger throughout their campaign for votes for women.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

Stream Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners on BBC Select

When slavery was abolished in Britain, its government made the extraordinary choice of compensating slave-owners for their loss of ‘property’.