The union of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, two able rulers known jointly as the Catholic Monarchs, set the stage for the unification of Spain religiously as well as politically and economically. This program utilizes dramatizations, location footage of historical landmarks, and maps to illustrate their consolidation of power, including the final conquest of Granada, the expulsion of the Jews, and the establishment of the Inquisition...

The historic town of Mostar, spanning a deep valley of the Neretva River, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town and during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mostar has long been known for its old Turkish houses and Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which it is named. In the 1990 conflict, however, most of the historic town and the Old Bridge, designed by the renowned architect Sinan, were destroyed....

A 14th-century English mystic who enclosed herself for life in order to fully develop her relationship with God after a series of revelations, Julian of Norwich and her writings are still studied by Christian theologians. Her prose, some of the most terrifying and compelling, is the first to refer to God as "She," forging the way for inclusive language that is used in many Bibles today. This program offers a concise overview of Julian's life, times,...

Medieval art historian Alixe Bovey follows the Gough Map to the once-important port town, Sandwich; to Canterbury Cathedral, the resting place of Thomas Becket; and to London, which became one of the most powerful cities of the Middle Ages thanks to the River Thames.

Characterized by expressions of individuality, popularismo, criticism, stoicism, humor, piety, and dignity, the literature of Spain spans ten centuries, includes some of history's most significant writers, and contains landmark works of every major literary genre. This program provides an overview of Iberian history as it relates to Spanish literature. The formation of regional tongues and their importance in the cultural life of Spain are discussed,...

At what point did England's Norman rulers begin to think of themselves as English? This program addresses that question as it surveys the history of the monarchy from Henry III to the birth of Henry Tudor. Recounting the scramble for power that followed the death of King John, the program explores the little-known rule of Louis-the French king "imported" by ambitious barons, then ousted when he wore out his welcome-and explains why it took yet another...

Located well above the Arctic Circle, the site includes the mountainous Wrangel Island (2,937 square miles), Herald Island (4 square miles) and surrounding waters. Wrangel was not glaciated during the Quaternary Ice Age, resulting in exceptionally high levels of biodiversity for this region. The island boasts the world’s largest population of Pacific walrus and the highest density of ancestral polar bear dens. It is a major feeding ground for the...

The Renaissance led to a period of cultural greatness for the Church, but it also reached a pit of spiritual degradation. This film examines the reign of Pope Alexander VI, the Borgia pope. Despite rampant nepotism on behalf of his seven known children, Alexander is said by some to have gotten a bad rap. Known for his patronage of the arts - Raphael and Michelangelo both worked for him - it was also said that he purchased the job of pope for himself....

At a time when revolutionary France was assailed from all sides, there emerged a young military officer whose genius and ambition assured him of great fame-and notoriety. In this program, Dr. David Chandler-world-renowned authority on the Emperor Napoleon and author of The Campaigns of Napoleon-provides full commentary on the strategies and tactics of the Napoleonic Wars. Large-scale reenactments bring to life the military campaigns that so strongly...

Alex is digging for buried treasure, when Timeblazers Jen and Sam tell him that his pirate's map is a fake. To help him better understand fact from fiction, they head back to ancient Greece and Plato, who made up the story of the mythical island Atlantis. Next Alex learns that the story of King Arthur and the Round Table is just a good story, written by Geoffrey of Monmouth; also that the Sword Excalibur and Merlin come from Celtic myths and legends....