Patrick Boucheron explores world history by looking back on some of the most important events.
Director: Denis Waerebeke
Alexander's death marks the loss of the greatest conqueror in history. He was the only man who managed to extend an empire from Eurasia to the Mediterranean, and onward to India. Over time, translated copies of "The Romance of Alexander" have been found in Persia, Arabia, and Latin regions of the world, as well as in Mali.
27 minutes
Being a Christian is to believe that God came to Earth in the form of a man to deliver us from our sins, a man who preached the holy gospel, performed miracles, was crucified on the cross, and experienced resurrection. For historians, however, Christ's crucifixion is the most reliable indicator of Jesus' existence.
25 minutes
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. covered the Italian town of Pompeii in ash so thick it preserved much of the town as it existed the moment the volcano struck with terror. One question remains: Can one be certain that all discoveries found in Pompeii date back to the Vesuvius eruption?
30 minutes
In 622 A.D., Mahomet's hegira to Medina, the site of Mecca, marked the end of the Christian era, and the beginning of the Muslim era. Moreover, it represented the birth of a new religion, civilization, empire, and calendar. From this point in history onward, the Islamic faithful pray towards sacred Mecca instead of Jerusalem.
30 minutes
Did the first outbreaks of the bubonic plague occur in China, or the region of the Caspian Sea? To this day experts cannot pinpoint the exact location. How did the black death plague spread so successfully? After decades of research, it appears that the rat flea was the major carrier of the horrific disease.
26 minutes
The fascinating discovery of Angkor's ancient ruins convey images of magnificence and splendor. For years, the idea of a civilization lost and left in ruin has lingered, as was the case for the Roman Empire, yet careful study of Angkor's monumental temples and grounds provide no such evidence of any brutal sort of disappearance.
25 minutes
In our collective, historical memory, 1492 is the year that divides the Middle Ages from modern times. Why is this the case, and is this an accurate and true reflection of history as it took place?
26 minutes
The Tennis Court Oath was the key tipping point of the French Revolution, from both a symbolic and a legal standpoint. On June 20, 1789, the deputies of the Third Estate gathered in the Hall of Jeu de Paume at Versailles and swore not to separate until having written a French constitution.
30 minutes
The United States viewed the Hiroshima operation as a large-scale scientific experiment that would force Japan to capitulate and avoid a Russian invasion of Japan. As the first mass bombing in history, Japan sustained upwards of 70,000 fatal injuries due to the atom bomb's destructive force on Hiroshima.
25 minutes
"I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people." Those are the first words announced by Nelson Mandela after his release from prison after 27 years of incarceration. The event struck a chord worldwide, reminding us that South Africa, historically, was not only the first country to be colonized, but it was also the last country to be decolonized.
27 minutes
