Exploring the palaces of Saddam Hussein; discovering how he calls upon the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians for inspiration; how the architecture changes over time in response to threats from Iran and the United States.

Traveling back to the 14th century B.C. in Egypt; how the Malkata Palace represents a microcosm of Egypt; architectural details reveal insights about religious rituals how pharaohs attempt to assert their domination over others.

Akhenaten shifts Egypt's capital to Amarna; how his worship of the sun disk defines an era built on temple crops, sacrifices and obedience to the pharaoh; how relocating his seat of power helps Akhenaten wrestle authority away from religious leaders.

Studying Bronze Age Crete; the myth of Daedalus and his labyrinth symbolizes Crete's location at the intersection of multiple cultures; discovering the Phaistos Palace, the site of extravagant religious rituals and entertainment spectacles.

Exploring the Palace of Nestor, a complex centered around the throne room; the ancient styles the Mycenaeans develop to bring these elaborate structures to life; what the arrangement of rooms reveals about how royals live and maintain control.

Ashurnasirpal II designs the Assyrian palace at Nimrud; he loves to write of his conquests of nature and his knowledge of tree species; clearly an intellectual, he describes in detail the glory of feasts he throws, as well as the math behind them.