ZDF – Ancient Engineering: Series 1 (2021)

The Ancients were brilliant engineers who built spectacular monuments

Part 1: Roads That Changed The World
Chariots were the express vehicles of their day – but how did they work? And what about the roads, tunnels, and bridges that they relied upon? Transport networks are also indispensable in our fast-paced, interconnected modern world, and we’ve learned from our ancestors.

Part 2: The Great Wall of China
Since the earliest civilizations, humans have needed walls to protect them. From rudimentary walls around early towns and cities to vast fortresses and castles, culminating in one of the greatest engineering triumphs of all time – the Great Wall of China.

Part 3: Secrets of the Pyramids
The Great Pyramid at Giza is the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its scale is breath-taking and it is built to the mind-boggling degree of precision. How did ancient engineers achieve this feat, and what was the purpose of this monumental and mysterious structure?

Part 4: Rise of the Super Castle
In the Middle Ages, the technology of the castle evolved by leaps and bounds. Engineers constructed some of the most spectacular buildings of all time in a dramatic arms- race. At the same time, new weapons designed to attack castles came to the fore.

Part 5: Secrets of Notre Dame
Building for God reached a high point in the Middle Ages when a new engineering movement emerged in Europe, changing the rules forever. It aimed to use pioneering construction methods and architecture to create a glimpse of heaven…on earth.