Watch Genius of the Ancient World

What happened in the 5th century BC changed your life. This was the time when three trailblazers – the Buddha, Confucius and Socrates – transformed our understanding of human potential, cutting us loose from gods, making us deciders of our own destiny. All survivors of childhood trauma, living thousands of miles apart, what was it about their time that created ideas that still shape our own lives?

Join historian Bettany Hughes in this fascinating BBC documentary as she travels to India, Greece and China to discover more about three icons of ancient philosophy.

Watch Genius of the Ancient World and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

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