Simon Sebag Montefiore takes us on an extraordinary journey, tracing Rome’s tumultuous path as it ascended to become the heart of Western Christendom. This wasn’t a simple rise; it was a story marked by transformation, divine gambles, and the powerful pull of new ideas on the lives of citizens, elites, and priests alike.
Rome episode 2: A History of the Eternal City Read More »
The finale episode, First Civilizations – Trade episode 4, examines an ancient civilization unlike any other, that of the Indus Valley. Rather than imposing order through war or religion, it relied on the free flow of trade. The exchange of goods promoted wealth, co-operation and trust. A look at the first human civilizations, which emerged in the Near East, Egypt, the Indus Valley, China, the Andes, and Mesoamerica. All subsequent civilizations have been derived from these original six foundational civilizations. First Civilizations Having lived as mobile foragers for 99 percent of our time on Earth, why did humans
First Civilizations episode 4 – Trade Read More »
First Civilizations – Cities episode 3, view the birthplace of civilization: the Middle East, site of the world’s first villages, towns and cities, from the hills of Turkey to the plains of Iraq. They were crucibles of invention and innovation-turbo-charging the pace of progress. A look at the first human civilizations, which emerged in the Near East, Egypt, the Indus Valley, China, the Andes, and Mesoamerica. All subsequent civilizations have been derived from these original six foundational civilizations. First Civilizations Having lived as mobile foragers for 99 percent of our time on Earth, why did humans set out
First Civilizations episode 3 – Cities Read More »
First Civilizations episode 2 – Religion: discover the secret to the stability and cohesion of Ancient Egypt—religion. When people share a core set of beliefs, they are more likely to identify as one. That was true for the first civilizations and it’s just as true today. A look at the first human civilizations, which emerged in the Near East, Egypt, the Indus Valley, China, the Andes, and Mesoamerica. All subsequent civilizations have been derived from these original six foundational civilizations. First civilizations having lived as mobile foragers for 99 percent of our time on Earth, why did humans
First Civilizations episode 2 – Religion Read More »
A History of Christianity episode 6: Diarmaid MacCulloch’s own life story makes him a symbol of a distinctive feature about Western Christianity – scepticism, a tendency to doubt which has transformed both Western culture and Christianity. A History of Christianity episode 6 – God in the Dock In the final programme in the series, he asks where that change came from. He challenges the simplistic notion that faith in Christianity has steadily ebbed away before the relentless advance of science, reason and progress, and shows instead how the tide of faith perversely flows back in. Despite the
A History of Christianity episode 6 – God in the Dock Read More »
A History of Christianity episode 5: Diarmaid MacCulloch traces the growth of an exuberant expression of faith that has spread across the globe – Evangelical Protestantism. Today, it is associated with conservative politics, but the whole story is distinctly more unexpected. A History of Christianity episode 5 – Protestantism – The Evangelical Explosion It is easily forgotten that the evangelical explosion has been driven by a concern for social justice and the claim that one could stand in a direct emotional relationship with God. It allowed the Protestant faith to burst its boundaries from its homeland in
A History of Christianity episode 5 – Protestantism – The Evangelical Explosion Read More »
In the fourth part of the series, Diarmaid MacCulloch makes sense of the Reformation, and of how a faith based on obedience and authority gave birth to one based on individual conscience. The Amish today are peaceable folk, but five centuries ago their ancestors were seen as some of the most dangerous people in Europe. They were radicals – Protestants – who tore apart the Catholic Church. He shows how Martin Luther wrote hymns to teach people the message of the Bible, and how a tasty sausage became the rallying cry for Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli to tear
A History of Christianity episode 4 – Reformation – The Individual Before God Read More »
A History of Christianity episode 3 – Orthodoxy: today, Eastern Orthodox Christianity flourishes in the Balkans and Russia, with over 150 million members worldwide. It is unlike Catholicism or Protestantism – worship is carefully choreographed, icons pull the faithful into a mystical union with Christ, and everywhere there is a symbol of a fierce-looking bird, the double-headed eagle. What story is this ancient drama trying to tell us? A History of Christianity episode 3 – Orthodoxy – From Empire to Empire In the third part of his journey into the history of Christianity, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch charts
A History of Christianity episode 3 – Orthodoxy – From Empire to Empire Read More »
A History of Christianity episode 2 : Diarmaid MacCulloch explores the rise of Roman Catholicism. How did a small Jewish sect become western Europe’s established religion? Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch’s grandfather was a devout pillar of the local Anglican church and felt that any dabbling in Catholicism was liable to pollute the English way of life. But now his grandfather isn’t around to stop him exploring the extraordinary and unpredictable rise of the Roman Catholic church. A History of Christianity episode 2 – Catholicism: The Unpredictable Rise of Rome Over one billion Christians look to Rome, more
A History of Christianity episode 2 – The Unpredictable Rise of Rome Read More »
John McCarthy examines the art of faith – the art of religions, journeying across the globe in search of great temples, churches and sacred sites. The three hour-long films, presented and narrated by the broadcaster John McCarthy, visit many of the greatest and most significant religious buildings of the world. Each hour-long episode is a high-definition visual experience. Divine in form, sacred buildings are amongst the most beautiful and enduring achievements of mankind. Art of Faith part 1 –Â Hinduism John McCarthy explores the art and architecture of the Asian religions, beginning in India with the colouful erotic carvings
Life of the Buddha is a major new landmark documentary following Buddha on his journey from the lap of luxury to the verge of starvation and final enlightenment.
The Life of the Buddha Read More »
The Secrets of Christ’s Tomb is a new hour-long documentary that reveals some fascinating new information about the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
The Secrets of Christ’s Tomb Read More »