Ancient Megastructures

Season 2

2008 · 6 episodes

From the dreams that inspired them, to the blood and sweat that built them, the new season unveils the full story behind six magnificent structures that forever changed the landscape of architecture: Petra, Alhambra, St.Paul’s Cathedral, Hagia Sophia, Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat.

Episodes

1. 

   1. The Alhambra

   1 Jan 2008

   The Alhambra is the greatest example of Islamic military architecture in Europe. Sultan Muhammad I constructed this ingenious, impregnable fortress in 1238 amid treacherous political betrayals.

2. 

   2. Istanbul's Hagia Sophia

   1 Jan 2008

   Fiery Roman Emperor Justinian ordered the rebuilding of the great church of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul almost 1500 years ago. Modern science now uncovers the secret to this vast golden dome's longevity.

3. 

   3. Petra

   1 Jan 2008

   Carved into the side of a narrow gorge in the unforgiving deserts of Petra in modern day Jordan, the ancient Nabataeans turned engineering on its head to create their glorious royal city, Khazneh.

4. 

   4. St. Paul's Cathedral

   1 Jan 2008

   From the ashes of London's Great Fire in 1666 rises Christopher Wren's daring architectural vision. As England's first Baroque cathedral, St Paul's is an icon to rival the grandeur of ancient Rome.

5. 

   5. Angkor Wat

   1 Jan 2008

   Hidden deep in Cambodia's jungles, the temple of Angkor Wat is a towering monument to the Hindu god Vishnu, belying its origins as the mausoleum for a usurper king who murdered his great uncle.

6. 

   6. Machu Picchu

   1 Jan 2008

   Built using techniques that surpass modern ones, the temples, altars and residences of Machu Picchu have resisted torrential rains, landslides and earth tremors since being abandoned by the Incas.