The Arabian Peninsula is a magical place that was once at the centre of the ancient world, a crossroads of East and West and on the frontiers of mighty empires. It's in this stunning landscape of wind-weathered rocks and deep red desert sands that Bettany Hughes unpacks the Treasures of Arabia.
Bettany explores the artistic and cultural Wonders of Jordan. A strategic crossing point for East and West, Jordan has been the centre of great civilisations throughout human history. In the rock-cut city of Petra, capital of the little-known Nabateans, Bettany uncovers wonders off the beaten track, including a luxury Nabatean mansion, exquisite 2000-year-old frescoes and a mysterious snake pyramid.
Bettany travels via jeep through central Turkey to Cappadocia, visiting rock-carved settlements to understand how communities lived and used this strange landscape for centuries. Bettany then makes her way to the 10,000-year-old temple and settlement at Göbeklitepe, revealing how hunter-gatherers were far more sophisticated than previously thought.
Boarding a traditional gulet yacht, Bettany sets sail along the coast of Mediterranean Turkey. At modern day Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, Bettany uncovers the story of a remarkable ruling family from the 4th century BCE, and gains unprecedented access to the recently unearthed tomb of the head of the dynasty.
The island of Cyprus lies between the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa and, as such, has often been desired as a strategic location by many different powers through history. Bettany explores the legacy of these diverse influences on Cyprus through four of its unique treasures.
Azerbaijan sits between the sparkling Caspian Sea and the rugged Caucuses mountain range. It was a strategic position on the ancient Silk Roads, leaving a legacy of diverse cultures that contribute to Azerbaijan's unique heritage today. Bettany journeys through this captivating land exploring the treasures.
Bettany Hughes
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