Lost Worlds: Series 1

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History Documentary hosted by Corey Johnson, published by History Channel in 2007 - English narration

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Lost Worlds: Series 1 Dig into the sands of time with this exploration into lost civilizations. Scientists, archaeologists, and historians alike search for evidence of cities that may have forever been lost to time. Some are ancient while some are surprisingly recent. Journey back to Jerusalem when Christ walked through its streets. Explore the mysteries of the Knights Templar. See Egypt when Ramses ruled and discover what it looked like in Braveheart's Scotland. Recent cities include Winston Churchill's secret bunkers and a Welthauptstadt Germania that Hitler envisioned. Graphic recreations and location shots bring these cities to life.

[edit] Knights Templar

They defended the Holy Land through bloodshed and prayer. Founded in the 12th century, these Christian warrior monks reigned supreme for nearly 200 years before suffering a spectacular fall from grace. Branded heretics, they were disbanded and their Grand Master was burned at the stake Lost Worlds probes behind the legend for the lost world of the Knights Templar. Walk the streets of the city they knew as Tortosa-now hidden among modern homes in the Syrian city of Tartus. Visit the site of their Jerusalem headquarters in the Temple Mount, where underground vaults were said to stable 1,000 horses. Experts re-create their mysterious initiation rites in a London church modeled on the Templar's long-demolished home, and the tale of the Templar's last stand is told on the Mediterranean island where they met their end.

[edit] Jesus Jerusalem

Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims travel to Jerusalem to trace Jesus' footsteps. But since his death, the city has been destroyed and rebuilt more than 20 times. So what did it look like when Jesus was alive? Lost Worlds draws on the expertise of a cadre of archaeologists, historians and computer graphics professionals to find out. They rebuild Herod's Temple Mount--in its time the world's largest man-made structure. They explain the manipulation of light and stone that let the Holy Sanctuary "sparkle like a snow-capped mountain in the sun." They explore the network of aqueducts, pipes, tunnels, and pools that kept this desert city from thirst and enabled it to handle an influx of pilgrims that routinely swelled its population from 30,000 to 300,000. They seek the places where Jesus performed miracles. And they map his final hours: including the real route of the "Via Dolorosa." Jesus' Jerusalem reveals a world hidden for more than 20 centuries.

[edit] The First Christians

In the aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion, only a hundred or so of his followers survived. But within a few decades, Christianity had spread around the Mediterranean and across the Roman Empire. In large measure, this was due to the efforts of one man, a man who had once devoted himself to squashing the nascent faith--St. Paul. LOST WORLDS draws on the expertise of a team of field investigators using the latest research, expert analysis, and cutting-edge graphic technology to return to the earliest years of Christianity. From the port of Tarsus, where St. Paul was born, the program follows the systems of trade and transport that helped him travel 20,000 miles. In the Turkish desert city of Cappadocia, Lost Worlds finds evidence of how the new religion reached a mysterious community of cave-dwellers. These persecuted Christian communities sought refuge by literally heading underground to vast subterranean cities which The First Christians explores.

[edit] Atlantis

The wonders of Atlantis are described at length in ancient writings, including those of the philosopher Plato. But was his description of the island civilization just shadows on the cave wall, or was there really such a place? The latest research, expert analysis, and cutting-edge technology take us back to a peaceful island that exploded with devastating force. At the dawn of the 20th Century, the remains of a palace were discovered on the island of Crete, preserved beneath volcanic ash. Our experts link the Cretan palace and a town on Santorini through the unique engineering of their buildings. Rebuilding towns, temples, and the palace of Atlantis as described by Plato, Lost Worlds reveals the majesty and mystery of this lost world. The builders of the original palace achieved a level of engineering excellence not matched for centuries. With its massive scale, complex water-management systems, and sparkling gypsum walls, the engineering of this extraordinary palace connects it to Plato's descriptions of Atlantis.

[edit] Ramses Egyptian Empire

In 1300 BC, the mighty Egyptian civilization was in its golden age. Its ruler was Ramses II, a man who intended to be the greatest of the Pharaohs. He made his mark by building vast statues, towering obelisks, temples carved from the living rock. Ramses was a giant of a man, dominating his kingdom for 67 years, pushing it on to ever greater glory. Lost Worlds travels to Egypt to examine the remains of Ramses' accomplishments. With the aid of new research and cutting edge graphics technology, the true scale of his ambition can now be fully revealed. Ramses Egyptian Empire reconstructs the grand hypostyle hall at Karnak, explores the technical innovation and engineering skill that produced the temple at Abu Simbel, rebuilds the Ramesseum as he would have seen it, and uncovers how the extraordinary tomb that Ramses built for himself would have looked when his body was finally laid there.

[edit] Athens Ancient Supercity

In the 5th century BC, one man led his city to greatness and paved the way for western civilization. The city was Athens and Pericles was not a king or prince, but an elected ruler. He directed the most costly and ambitious construction campaign undertaken in the western world--creating a model city of temples, houses, market places, civic buildings, and a highly innovative sanitation system. Lost Worlds reveals that, despite Athens' extraordinary influence and importance, Pericles' plan led to his--and the city's--downfall. It took 30 years to build, but it was laid low in one generation by war and disease. Now, 2,500 years later, Lost Worlds restores Athens to its former glory--the first senate house, the terrifying power of the Greek navy, and one of the world's most advanced water systems. The program also details the magnificence of the Parthenon--often hailed as the most perfect building ever completed.

[edit] The Real Dracula

In a country torn by bloody civil war, a young man seizes power. In his native tongue, he is called Dracula. This is not the vampire, Count Dracula, but a real historical figure: a Romanian prince. Dracula was a warlord who became known all across Europe for both his breathtaking courage and his terrifying cruelty. But he also left an enduring legacy. Not just in blood, but also in brick, mortar, and stone. He constructed palaces. He founded the city that was to become his country's capital. He also built one of Eastern Europe's most breathtaking mountaintop castles. Now, with state-of-the-art computer animation, we'll bring Dracula's lost world back to life: his birthplace in the fortified town of Sighisoara; the gothic splendour of Transylvania's Bran Castle; the sumptuous palace of Targoviste; and the real castle Dracula, Poenari.

[edit] Bravehearts Scotland

Scotland, the end of the 13th century, a country under attack. Invaded by the greatest army in Christendom, defeat seems inevitable. But from nowhere emerges a man who will become Scotland’s greatest hero. William Wallace, later known as Braveheart, he is an inspirational leader who will give his life for Scotland’s freedom. New research allows us to journey back to the lost world that Braveheart fought for. A violent age when magnificent castles were built to withstand a new generation of weapons, where kings built heavily fortified towns. This is also a golden age of culture and sophistication. Travelling down secret pathways that still lie beneath modern Scotland, we reveal a world that has not been seen for 700 years. This is the lost world of Braveheart, the world he died to protect.

[edit] The Pagans

In the late Stone Age, the pagan people of the British Isles constructed some of the greatest monuments of the ancient world, fabulous constructions of wood, earth, and stone. In this hour, Lost Worlds travels from the ancient stone villages of Scotland's Orkney Islands to Southern England in search of the soul of the Pagan's mysterious culture. The Pagans reveals a startling new theory about the role Stonehenge played in the lives of the pagans, while computer animation reconstructs the monument as it appeared to them. Experts trace a forgotten ancient pathway to Stonehenge's lost twin--Woodhenge--and explore the secrets of Silbury Hill, the world's largest man-made mound. Finally, we'll visit Maiden Castle, a fortress that witnessed the pagan world's end.

[edit] Palenque

Deep in the jungles of Southern Mexico lays Palenque, one of the greatest lost cities of the New World. Built in the 5th century by the Maya, this amazing city flourished for centuries before being mysteriously abandoned by its people. Now at this ancient site a team of scientists, engineers and archaeologists are seeking to uncover the secrets of its builders and unravel how the city would have looked at its height. For the first time, using state of the art computer graphics and cutting edge science, we resurrect these great temples, palaces, majestic aqueducts and dark labyrinths to reveal them as they once were. What the team discover could change our understanding of this great Mayan city forever.

[edit] Secret Cities of the a Bomb

This might be the story of history’s biggest secret. A hidden world of secret cities and classified nuclear facilities built inside America. 400,000 people were part of it, though only a handful really knew the truth. It took up half a million acres of land, it saw the construction of the largest building in the world, it cost billions of dollars and all these resources were focused on one goal: Brining an end to World War II by building the world’s first atomic bomb. Six decades on a team of experts return to the once classified sites where the course of history was decided. In green valleys and dry deserts they will uncover and rebuilt this lost world. Using the latest in computer technology and new evidence, the team will uncover the most complex feat of engineering ever taken. This is the Lost World of the Manhattan Project.

[edit] Hitlers Supercity

On the outskirts of Berlin stand traces of the Supercity that Adolph Hitler planned. Forgotten and abandoned, they are what remain of his attempt to build a new world capital. Hitler may have been responsible for more death and destruction than any individual in history, but he didn’t only want to destroy, he wanted to build, to remodel his country according to his own vision. And this new city would be the project’s showpiece. Hitler planned to create buildings bigger and better than anything that had gone before. A domed hall so large that the Eiffel Tower could be fitted inside it. A stadium that would hold 400,000 people. But his dream was never fully realized and it died with him at the end of World War II. Only now after six decades of research and using new computer graphic technology is it possible to recreate the city that Hitler had intended for his people. This is Hitler’s lost world.

[edit] Churchills Secret Bunkers

During World War II a vast complex of secret bunkers was constructed under the streets of London. This world, now lost to time, was once an important refuge from the nightly onslaught of Nazi air raids. This subterranean labyrinth kept the British government led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill safe through the darkest days of the war. This secret network also sheltered American General Dwight Eisenhower, but very little else has ever been revealed to the public. Now we head underground and bring this lost world back to life. We will use cutting edge computer graphic technology to peel back that layers and reveal a hidden city. Deep below the sidewalk, we will expose wartime secrets we were never meant to know