What history's bestselling book can tell us about ourselves

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

How Mad Was King George?

King George III is remembered as a madman, but is this assessment unfair?

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the fascinating, sacred history of Istanbul.

The Royals: A History of Scandals

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb looks into history's most scandalous British royal rumors.

JFK: The Home Movie that Changed the World

The little-known history of the actual 8mm film that captured the assassination of JFK.

Napoleon

The story of Napoleon

Stephen Fry: Willem and Frieda - Defying the Nazis

Stephen Fry explores a remarkable story of forgery and sabotage by the Dutch Resistance.

The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England

Take a fascinating and innovative tour through the rich and poor of Elizabethan Britain.

The World War: 1914 - 1945

A new perspective on the most significant events in modern history, the two world wars.

Union with David Olusoga

Renowned historian David Olusoga reveals the stories behind the United Kingdom.

D-Day: Last Words

This unflinching documentary tells the story of 6 June 1944. The Longest Day. D-Day.

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.

Paradise Soldiers

Untold tales of military valor and sacrifice by decades of young Cook Islanders.

William and Harry: The Unseen Photos

Can unseen images reveal the roots of the rift between Prince Harry and Prince William?

Britain's Human Zoos

The shocking story of those trafficked from Africa for entertainment and experimentation.

David Baddiel: Jews Don't Count

Is anti-semitism taken less seriously than other forms of discrimination?

Nazi Killing Fields

Why were hundreds of innocent people murdered by the Nazis and buried in Arnsberg Forest?

Shooting War: Shall We Close Our Eyes?

The world’s top conflict photographers reflect on careers spent on the front lines.

Queen Victoria's Children

A royal family saga filled with conflict, passion, and shame. Meet the real Queen Victoria.

Vikings Uncovered

How were the Vikings so successful in forging and maintaining their vast empire?

The Thirties in Color

Color film and photographic archives give a surprising and unique insight into the 1930s.

Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes discovers new archaeological finds and treasures in ancient locations.

The Windsor Castle Fire: The Untold Story

A dramatic account of the catastrophic fire that engulfed Windsor Castle in 1992.

Kidnapped: A Georgian Adventure

The story of James Annesley, whose fate inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's book Kidnapped.

Atlantis: The Evidence

Bettany Hughes shows how the legend of Atlantis was inspired by a real historical event.

The Boy Who Would Be King

Was English King Charles II a sex-obsessed hedonist or brilliant political strategist?

History of Tanks

How the development of tanks during World War I changed the course of military history.

Thomas Cromwell: A Very Modern Tudor

The spectacular rise and fall of Tudor King Henry VIII’s right hand man Thomas Cromwell.

Castles: Britain's Fortified History

Sam Willis traces the story of Britain's castles in history, art, literature, and conflict.

Phil Spencer's History of Britain in 100 Homes

The architectural history of the British Isles is explored via 100 very different houses.

Ancient Powers

How the ancient powers of classical civilization grew, thrived, and ultimately failed.

Julius Caesar Revealed with Mary Beard

World renowned historian Mary Beard is on a mission to uncover the real Julius Caesar.

Elizabeth: A Life Through the Lens

How Elizabeth II was photographed over the years and the importance of image to her reign.

The Six Queens of Henry VIII

Rediscover the Queens who shaped a King & his legacy in The Six Queens of Henry VIII, BBC's new look at the King's infamous wives.

Elizabeth: A Life Through the Lens

How Elizabeth II was photographed over the years and the importance of image to her reign.

After Braveheart

Braveheart was a classic movie. But historically, what happened next?

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan's incredible journey from poverty in Mongolia to conquering Europe.

Prince Philip: The Plot To Make A King

The political maneuvers required to bring about the union of Philip and Queen Elizabeth.

Walking Through History

Take a historic tour through some of the British Isles most impressive landscapes.

Cromwell's Head

A strange, mysterious and grisly saga from a dark period of English history.

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.

Titanic's Tragic Twin: The Britannic Disaster

A look at how and why Titanic’s sister ship Britannic suffered a similar tragic fate.

Royal Antiques Revived

Remarkable royal items with curious pasts are restored using traditional techniques

Greeks of the Sea

With incredible wildlife and amazing seafood, Greece’s seas are truly blessed by the gods.

The Assassination of JFK

A unique retelling of the tragic death of JFK featuring expert testimony and new theories.

The Victorian Way of Death

From body-snatchers to overflowing graveyards, death in Victorian Britain is unearthed.

Royal Autopsy with Alice Roberts

Professor Alice Roberts explores the death of famous royals using 'as real' autopsies.

The Man Who Destroyed Oscar Wilde

The epic story of the famous playwright’s downfall at the hands of an old friend.

Britain's Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates and Rogues

Explore the fascinating world of British outlaws, rogues, pirates and highwaymen.

Lucy Worsley Investigates

The shocking truth behind history's most infamous mysteries.

The Secrets of the Mary Rose

How the wreck of Henry VIII’s ship, The Mary Rose was discovered, excavated, and eventually raised from the seabed.

The Battle of Britain

Britain's war against Germany seemed lost. The Battle of Britain was their last chance.

The Story of the Jews

Historian Simon Schama explores the Jewish story from ancient times to the present day.

The Warrior Queen: Boudica

Betrayed and humiliated, Boudica took on the invading Roman army and almost defeated them.

Philippa Gregory's The Real White Queen And Her Rivals

The women at the heart of the bloody War of the Roses that helped shape British history.

The Stuarts

The Stuart monarchs are considered merciless tyrants, but they also forged modern Britain.

Waterloo's Warriors

The story of the Battle of Waterloo using unpublished accounts from Wellington's troops.

The Queen Of Empire: Victoria

Victoria oversaw an astonishing period of change as the British Empire ruled the world.

The Rebel Queen: Eleanor of Aquitaine

The astonishing monarch who was queen of both France and England

Julius Caesar's Greatest Battle

Exploring a crucial battle during Julius Caesar's bloody campaign to conquer Gaul.

The Queen Who Would Be King

The story of Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut who did the unthinkable and declared herself king.

The Men and the Machines that Beat Hitler

The story of the Fifth Royal Tank Regiment who fought during World War II

Queens That Changed The World

A look at six powerful women who ruled their people and changed the course of history.

The Forgotten Queen: Anne

Modelling her reign on Elizabeth I, Anne was the first queen of a unified Great Britain.

The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I

Elizabeth ruled a divided nation but became one of the most powerful leaders in history.

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

Who was the man behind Lawrence of Arabia and why does he inspire such devotion today?

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is considered decadent, uncaring, and reprehensible. But is this fair?

The Somme 1916: From Both Sides Of The Wire

Historian Peter Barton explores the bloody battle that defined the First World War.

Nelson: Britain's Great Naval Hero

The scandals, secrets, and strategies of one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes: Nelson.

The Nazis: A Warning From History

How was it possible that the cultured nation at the heart of Europe ever allowed Hitler to come to power?

Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts

A look back at cataclysmic events in ancient history that still have relevance today

Invasion

The remarkable history of 'invasion' in the British Isles spanning thousands of years.

Rebellion: The Stuarts In Exile

How much threat did the deposed Stuart dynasty pose to the developing British state?

Inside the Tower of London

Go behind closed doors to see how an iconic piece of British history is run today.

King George and Queen Mary: The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy

The pioneering reign of Elizabeth II's grandparents, King George and Queen Mary.

Last Battle Of The Vikings

How did the Norsemen and their presence shape the identity and culture of Scotland?

The Catacomb Mystery

Can the discovery of thousands of skeletons help unlock the secrets of the Roman Empire?

The Last Day Of World War One

Michael Palin tells the shocking true story of the last soldiers to die in World War I.

India's Partition: The Forgotten Story

In 1947, India was divided in two leading to violence and death. Why did it happen?

The Last Days Of Anne Boleyn

What led to the dramatic downfall and violent execution of Queen Anne Boleyn in 1536?

Philippa Gregory's The Real White Queen And Her Rivals

The women at the heart of the bloody War of the Roses that helped shape British history.

The Most Dangerous Man In Tudor England

The dramatic story of William Tyndale and his mission to translate the Bible into English.

Renaissance Education: The Schooling Of Thomas More's Daughter

How the ideas that shaped Margaret More's education changed the cultural life of England.

Russia: 1000 Years Of History

An exploration of Russia's beginnings to its position as the biggest country in the world.

Take Me To Titanic

A journey to visit the world’s most famous shipwreck

African Apocalypse

The atrocities committed by a rogue French officer in Africa are still being felt today.

Scotland: Rome's Final Frontier

The amazing story of how Scotland became the Roman Empire's toughest military challenge.

Belsen: The Untold Story

Using survivor testimony and archive footage, the story of the infamous camp is told.

Henry VIII's Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell

Was Thomas Cromwell a corrupt, ambitious politician or has history unfairly maligned him?

Rome: What Lies Beneath

Discover what the glory of the Roman Empire was really like using space-age technology

The Stuarts

The Stuart monarchs are considered merciless tyrants, but they also forged modern Britain.

Tutankhamun: Life, Death and Legacy

Tutankhamun: Life, Death and Legacy

Nuremburg: The Nazi Trials

Exploring one of history’s most important trials that brought Nazis to justice

Egypt

How three great explorers unlocked the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians.

Antiques Roadshow

What treasures will be found as antique experts appraise the public’s heirlooms?

100 Years of BBC News

How has BBC News and the world changed over 100 years?

The Normans

How the extraordinary ambition of the Normans transformed the history of Europe.

Return of the Black Death

Could 25 medieval skeletons help to eradicate the Bubonic plague?

Magna Carta

David Starkey explores the origins of the Magna Carta

Rome's Invisible City

Venture beneath the streets of Rome to explore a hidden city seen by very few

The Hector: Canada's Mayflower

The horrific story of migrants who left Scotland in 1773 to settle in Nova Scotia

Italy's Invisible Cities

The hidden history of Venice, Naples and Florence

Who Were The Greeks?

Explore the brutal, brilliant and still influential Ancient Greeks

Armada: The Untold Story

The fierce naval conflict between England and Spain that changed the face of Europe.

Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens

Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II

The Art of Gothic

Why were Brits in the 19th-century obsessed with art that was horrific, macabre and weird?

The Silk Road

The world's first superhighway that carried goods and ideas between Europe and China.

The Wild West

What is the truth behind the iconic figures of the Wild West – and what is pure myth?

Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us

Get underneath the skin of the playwright to understand why his stories are so relevant today

Ancient Worlds

An epic quest through the birth of civili`ation and the development of humanity

Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes discovers new archaeological finds and treasures in ancient locations.

The Crusades

Why were the Crusaders willing to endure pain, death and starvation in the name of God?

The Six Queens of Henry VIII

Rediscover the Queens who shaped a King & his legacy in The Six Queens of Henry VIII, BBC's new look at the King's infamous wives.

Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley

Hitler's Terrifying Battle of Britain Bombing. Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley, BBC's leading historian

Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History

From slavery to settlement, award-winning historian David Olusoga explores the history of black Britain.

Russia 1917: Countdown to Revolution

Three men rise from obscurity to unleash a bloody revolution that changed history forever.

The Persians: A History of Iran

How was the world's first empire born and what led to its ultimate destruction?

Filthy Cities

Dan Snow explores the murky histories of London, Paris and New York from the bottom up.

Archaeology: A Secret History

Better living through archeology. How can our past make sense of our present?

Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream

The rise of one of the great cities and how it offers a window into power, faith and war.

The Birth of Empire: The East India Company

The world’s first megacorp. How Britain’s East India Company grew into an imperial power.

Royal Cousins at War

It makes The Crown look like Sesame Street. The bitter regal rivalries that led to war.

Genius of the Ancient World

Genius of the Modern World

Emigres, recluses, enemies of the state. How Marx, Nietzsche and Freud changed the world.

American History's Biggest Fibs

American history is fake, fact? Historian Lucy Worlsey delves deeper into US mythology.

Suffragettes

The violence, valor and sacrifices made by the women fighting for their right to vote.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

People as property: historian David Olusoga on the untold stories of British slavery.