Exploring the great historic sites of the Minoan civilisation on Crete, Mycenae in the Peloponnese, and the emerging Greek city states such as Corinth.

When the Greeks defeated the Persians in the 5th century, they rebuilt the Acropolis in the heart of Athens and erected its greatest site - the Parthenon.

The 80 Years' War financially ruined the Spanish Empire, whilst the Dutch Republic emerged as a global commercial power, contrasting their post-war fortunes.

After declaring independence from Spain, the Dutch Republic was cut off from the lucrative spice trade. This trade was controlled by Portugal and Spain, following their successful explorations of the East and West Indies and the Americas.

Exploring how the great imperial Chinese dynasties impacted modern day China.

The history of modern China is told from the birth of the republic in 1911, through the civil war, the bloody Japanese occupation, the rise to power of Mao and the Communist Party, the Cultural Revolution, to the present day.